Submission 35 to The Senate Environment, Communications and the Arts Legislation Committee

Abstract

A three-fold approach to combating reliance on fossil fuelled energy production and its associated hazards has been considered and partially implemented by the Australian Governments with mixed successes: The first approach is to encourage consumers to reduce consumption of energy through better energy use practices and more efficient appliances. This carried out by the encouragement of the use of fuel efficient motor vehicles, energy efficient electrical appliances, architectural designs and insulation of existing buildings (passive solar). The second approach is to encourage the production of non-polluting energy systems and renewable energy sources to supplement, or replace where possible, polluting fossil fuelled energy systems (active solar). The third approach is to impose a penalty on high energy consumers using large sources of fossil fuels. This approach is often referred to as a ‘carbon tax’ or ‘carbon trading.’ The focus of this submission is on the second approach, its related and proposed legislation. However the third approach has consequences for the second.