The Gillard government's Clean Energy Future package goes a long way to providing robust foundations, but more work is needed in some areas.

The Southern Cross Climate Coalition (SCCC) is an alliance of the Australian Conservation Foundation, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the Australian Council of Social Service and The Climate Institute.

The SCCC welcomes the Clean Energy Future package as a critical first step forward on climate change in Australia. The price on pollution and its complementary measures lay the foundation for reducing emissions and remaining competitive in the emerging global low pollution economy.

In November 2010 the SCCC outlined four foundations to drive a fair and inclusive transition to a low pollution economy.

This paper presents an assessment of the Clean Energy Future package against those foundations and against the SCCC's April 2011 detailed policy platform for a low pollution economy.