Friday, 11 July 2008
The Advertiser
Delaying the introduction of an emissions trading scheme would cost Australia billions of dollars, Treasurer Wayne Swan has said.
The Federal Government plans to start emissions trading in 2010 but the Opposition has called for a two-year delay amid warnings the scheme could cause severe economic pain.
Mr Swan rejected the call in a speech in Sydney last night.
"Delaying the introduction . . . as proposed by the Federal Opposition, would also have billions of dollars worth of adverse consequences for Australia,'' he said last night.
Mr Swan said climate change was the most significant economic challenge of our times.