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Burke's ETS ultimatum to Coalition: Pass the bill or lose agriculture's exclusion

24 Nov, 2009 11:15 AM
THE Federal Government won't commit to a permanent exclusion of agriculture in an emissions trading scheme if its new deal for carbon reduction legislation is rejected by the Opposition or fails in the Senate.

Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke, said the deal put to the Coalition following lengthy negotiations between the two sides of politics was one "for this week" and there was no determination on agriculture if that deal falls over.

"The responsibility that we’re working on at the moment is to try to get to the conclusion of an agreement this week," Mr Burke told Sky news.

"The different questions that you’re raising, we’re not in that mindset.

"Our mindset and our determination is that this should have happened years ago, we introduced legislation in the Budget sittings this year, we put the White Paper out last year and going all the way back we committed to this in the election campaign.

"We want to see action and we want a commitment to finally have a vote this week."

Mr Burke would not guarantee whether agriculture would remain out if no agreement is reached.

"My determination (is) that we have a vote this week and we get emission trading, we get a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme through this week.

"We’re not in the business at the moment of trying to contemplate what will happen if things go wrong.

"We are determined to see that Australia does take action on climate change. That’s important for Australia’s farmers and that’s why Malcolm Turnbull needs to commit to a vote this week."

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So the Federal government makes a decision that will affect Australia for the next 50 years. The decision they make this week, might be different that the decision they will make next week. Very responsible and carefully thought out!
Posted by Qlander, 24/11/2009 11:55:23 AM, on Queensland Country Life
Don't flog farmers, the horse is dead. They tell us now cattle are carbon neutral. Sheep numbers, from 100 down to 70 million, a 30% reduction. Wool is high in carbon. We are doing our bit. How about 1 car 1 person. The latest, vegetarians produce more gas.
Posted by Judas, 24/11/2009 12:36:41 PM, on Farm Weekly
Gee Mr Burke why do you feel so comfortable making a deal with the devil?
Posted by glen, 24/11/2009 4:06:18 PM, on The Land
Wake up Australia. The agenda is to shut down what's left of farming in this country and hand over market share to the multinationals so they can import and dump more of their free trade garbage food here. Do you realise even if the ETS doesn't include agriculture it will still increase production input costs, with fertilzer fuel, power and processing costs hiked by the ETS. Who do you think will be paying the extra costs? The farmers won't, they will walk off the land in disgust. Where do you think all the profits will go for all this cheap GM imported food. back into aussie pockets. I don't think so. Where do you think 15 million projected extra Australians are going to live, in the desert or on freshly devolped housing estates on prime farm land? Why? Because you can make more money via rates and taxes on housing than you can make on farmland. So what if you have to import food from half way across the planet the rest of the world has to. So what if we have a future food crisis because of a world population explosion. So what if you can't support your own country's food needs. So what if we can't stop global warming due to population. At least Australia will have a nice new ETS tax. And be so green.
Posted by Beef Serf, 24/11/2009 4:29:09 PM, on The Land
To hell with the lot of them. If this tax gets through they will change it back to where it was originally.
Posted by jerangle, 24/11/2009 6:15:01 PM, on The Land
Agriculture was never going to be included until after 2015, if this regime would still be in by then there would then have been a debate before introduction. As they say a day is a long time in politics. The fact this ridiculous tax has been forced through by Mr Turnbull again shows his contempt for real debate and a fair go.
Posted by rod, 24/11/2009 10:18:38 PM, on The Land
Tony Burke has shown his contempt for agriculture by using blackmail - he is already on target to become Australia's most destructive Minister for Agriculture by removing the Wheat Export Single Desk.
Posted by Full Profile., 25/11/2009 7:00:51 AM, on The Land
Labor's bullies and union thugs show their true colours yet again. They are willing to sacrifice farmers to score a political point. Liberals for God's sake stand up to these thugs and oppose the ETS lock, stock and barrel.
Posted by Arden, 25/11/2009 7:20:34 AM, on The Land
What, is it bribery now? Accept this deal or else? Bring on an election ASAP.
Posted by Concerned Northerner, 25/11/2009 7:33:01 AM, on Queensland Country Life
As I have said before they could not give a stuff about the enviroment, it's the tax.
Posted by Rassy, 25/11/2009 7:47:08 AM, on Queensland Country Life
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Agriculture Minister Tony Burke
Agriculture Minister Tony Burke
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