Climate Change still a crucial election issue: Ai Group

Government and industry must continue the dialogue on climate change and a principles-based approach should form the basis of action, according to Australian Industry Group.

Ai Group Chief Executive Heather Ridout says climate policy remains a crucial issue for Australian industry as Australia heads towards the August 21 Federal election.

"One of the most important tasks for the next government will be to get climate policy right, says Ms Ridout.

"Ai Group’s strong climate policy principles have been further developed by a high level Leaders’ Group of companies from across Ai Group’s diverse membership. 

Ai Group has unveiled expanded principles, recently endorsed by its National Executive.

They include:

• The competitiveness of Australia's trade-exposed industries cannot be eroded
• Australia should be able to meet its international emissions reduction commitments at least cost
• Climate policy must respect existing investments to avoid acute short-medium term disruptions while supporting efficient long-term investment in the energy and other sectors
• A central feature of policy should be supporting research and development of new approaches to emissions reduction and refinement of existing approaches and
• Compliance costs and regulatory burdens should be kept to a minimum.

“Business needs to have confidence that their concerns are well understood by all sides of politics as they refine their climate change policies and we would encourage all parties to embrace these principles, says Ms Ridout.

"Ai Group and its members, guided by these strong principles, will seek an active engagement and positive collaboration with the new government to address the risks posed by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.  We seek to work with all parties for a policy that secures Australia’s posterity while preserving its prosperity."