Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  45
Division/Agency:	Industry, Communities and Energy Division
Topic:	Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme	
Hansard Page ECITA:	128

Senator Carr asked:
What is the allocation for the $400 million Greenhouse Gas Abasement Program? How much has been spent to date and how much is intended to be committed for the forward estimates period?

Answer/s:
The $400 million allocation for the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme was made in the 1999-2000 Budget. 

The Government’s pioneering Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme aimed to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by supporting activities likely to result in substantial emissions savings particularly in the period 2008 – 2012. Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme project technologies tend to be close to the point of commercial application but not yet commercially viable. Projects therefore carry a higher degree of risk at the implementation stage than comparable commercially viable projects. As a result many Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme projects experienced delays in implementation and to date five projects have been withdrawn because they proved not to be commercially viable. 

In light of this experience, the Government decided through successive budget processes, to re-allocate some Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme funds to other climate change measures, most notably in the 2004-05 Budget. The new measures include a strong focus on strategic, long term abatement and technologies. However the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme is expected to deliver a significant contribution to Australia’s greenhouse gas target (emissions savings of 6.3 megatonnes in 2010, according to the most recent projections).

In the 2001-02 and 2002-03 Budgets, $81.0 million was expensed or committed to other programmes, consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme appropriation.

In the 2004-05 Budget there was a redirection of $130.3 million from the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme to measures in the then new Climate Change Strategy.

In the 2005-06 and 2006-07 Budgets, another $26.4 million was redirected from the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme to fund other Climate Change measures.

As at the end of the 2005-06 financial year, $65 million has been spent on the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme. 

In the 2006-07 Budget, the allocation for the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme is  $66.2 million over the forward estimates period. 

Subject to future Budget processes, there is up to $31.1 million remaining of the original $400 million allocation to the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme. 

Outcome: 1. Environment	Question No:  46
Sub Outcome:	1.1 Response to Climate Change
Division/Agency:	Industry, Communities and Energy Division 
Topic:	Climate Change
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Carr asked:
Given the Minister stated on Four Corners earlier this year that:
“Well, I’ve specifically for example asked the renewable energy sector in Australia to come up with new policies in that area, which I would quite frankly I would … .. and:
“I’m writing policy now on greenhouse and environmental issues. I have industry working closely with me on that.”
(a)  Please advise what new policies came out of the discussions the Minister was having with industry?
(b)  Has the Minister worked closely with industry on policy options?  Is the Minister working with the renewable energy industry?  Please provide examples.
(c)  Did the Department or Minister receive any correspondence from any industry on future policy directions?  If so, please provide details.
(d)  Did the Department or Minister respond to this correspondence?

Answer/s:
(a - d) The Minister is engaged in continuing policy discussions with the renewable energy industry, which is contributing to the Government’s thinking on effective measures to deal with low emission electricity generation. The Minister meets regularly with renewable energy companies and industry representatives.