The clean energy plan

Last updated11 July, 2011
Key Resources

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan, and Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Greg Combet announced the Australian Government’s comprehensive plan for tackling climate change, ‘Securing a clean energy future’.

A clean energy future is part of a long term plan to reshape our economy, cut carbon pollution, drive innovation, and help avoid the increased costs of delaying action on climate change.
The comprehensive plan includes:

  • putting a price on carbon pollution
  • promoting innovation and investment in renewable energy
  • improving energy efficiency
  • creating opportunities in the land sector to cut pollution.

Under the plan, Australia will cut 159 million tonnes a year of carbon pollution from our atmosphere by 2020 – the equivalent of taking over 45 million cars off the road.

The carbon price will change Australia’s electricity generation by encouraging investment in renewable energy like wind and solar power, and the use of cleaner fuels like natural gas.

Households will be looked after with tax cuts, higher family payments and increases in pensions and benefits, to help meet the costs passed through by some businesses. The household assistance estimator  provides further information about what sort of assistance you might be eligible for.

Individuals, businesses, industry and governments around the world are already taking action to reduce carbon pollution. By acting now, Australia can look forward to long term prosperity for ourselves and future generations.

Key Resources

Securing a clean energy future – The Australian Government’s climate change plan
The Australian Government’s comprehensive plan for tackling climate change and secure a clean energy future. It outlines the existing policies already underway to address climate change and cut carbon pollution and introduces several critical new initiatives. The plan has four pillars: a carbon price; renewable energy; energy efficiency; and action on land. The plan also details how the Government is supporting Australian households, businesses and communities to transition to a clean energy future.

Securing a clean energy future – The Australian Government’s climate change plan in summary
A concise overview of the Australian Government’s plan, including the new Carbon Pricing Mechanism, renewable energy, energy efficiency and land initiatives, as well as household, business and community support.

Supporting Australian households – helping households move to a clean energy future
An outline of the financial assistance and tax reform that will be provided to households as part of the Australian Government’s plan for a transition to cleaner energy. It includes energy efficiency advice for households and support for particular groups, such as pensioners and allowance recipients.

Clean energy Australia – investing in the clean energy sources of the future
The Australian Government’s new and existing measures supporting the transition to clean energy sources. This includes investing in renewable energy, encouraging energy efficiency, and providing opportunities for landholders.

 

Fact sheets for download (PDF)
A series of fact sheets covering specific aspects of the Government’s climate change plan including information for business, households, local governments and regional Australia:

  1. Household Assistance—Support for working Australians
  2. Household Assistance—Pensioners
  3. Household Assistance—Supporting low income households
  4. Household Assistance—Self funded retirees
  5. Household Assistance—Essential medical equipment
  6. Household Assistance—Students and job seekers
  7. Household Assistance—Carers and people with disability
  8. Household Assistance—Families
  9. Household Assistance—Tax reform
  10. Household Assistance—Aged care residents
  11. Regional Australia
  12. Supporting jobs and industry
  13. Small business
  14. Local government
  15. Biodiversity Fund
  16. Transport fuels
  17. Tax treatment
  18. Support for the Australian steel industry

Find out more information on Detailed household outcomes

Detailed modelling from the Treasury released in July 2011 shows:

  • The economic costs of delaying action on climate change
  • How Australia’s economy and job opportunities will continue to grow with a carbon price
  • The modest impact on cost of living with a carbon price
  • How carbon pricing will transform our economy and drive a shift towards cleaner energy

For information on the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee’s clean energy agreement


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Related Topics

Carbon tax

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