Labor backbencher Joel Fitzgibbon says a price on carbon was a “solid argument” 10 years ago but those still calling for a revival of the policy like National ALP President Wayne Swan are just wrong.
Australia looks set to reach its Paris emissions reduction targets by 2030, and may be able to achieve the goal without using its Kyoto carryover credits.
Mr Fitzgibbon says this achievement shows how government should not be approaching public policy in 2020 “in the same way we approached ten years ago”.
He said since Labor introduced a price on carbon in 2010, technology and the consumer have played important roles in Australia.
“People are putting roof-top solar on their homes like we could not have believed. Regional landscapes are full now of large scale solar and wind farms. Australians are also rushing to buy electric and hybrid vehicles,” he said.
“People are no longer waiting for parliaments to act. We could be doing better, we should strive to do even better, but businesses and household are moving on a daily basis”.
Mr Fitzgibbon said Julia Gillard’s carbon tax was a “solid argument” then, but Wayne Swan is “just wrong” for suggesting it in 2020.
“In that intervening period, we have made gains, technology’s begun to play a greater role and will play a greater role again into the future.”