Regional public information sessions: Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme

The Australian Government Department of Climate Change has organised a round of public information sessions for regional Australia on the Australian Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

The locations in regional Queensland are Townsville, Port Douglas, Nerang, Mackay Rockhampton, Caboolture, Mt Isa and Barcaldine – please see below for a list of locations, venues and times.

The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is part of the Australian Government's climate change strategy.

The scheme aims to reduce carbon pollution while minimising the impact on business and households.

The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme will, for the first time, place a limit, or cap, on the amount of carbon pollution industry can emit.

The Scheme requires affected businesses and industry to buy a 'pollution permit' for each tonne of carbon they contribute to the atmosphere, giving them a strong incentive to reduce pollution.

The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme will place obligations on around 1000 Australian companies - those that produce more than 25000 tonnes of carbon pollution each year. This will affect less than one per cent of Australian businesses.

The Government has pledged to use every cent raised by the sale of pollution permits to help Australian households and businesses adjust to the scheme and invest in clean energy options.

The regional presentation will be broadcast via Sky Channel on Thursday 26 February 2009.

The briefing will include an introduction by the Minister for Climate Change, Senator Penny Wong, and a presentation by a senior executive from the Department of Climate Change on topics such as assistance to households and industry under the scheme, and the Climate Change Action Fund.

Although no-one from the Department will be physically present at the presentation, participants will still be able to ask questions.

A telephone hotline will be open during the broadcast, with phones available at every venue. You can also email questions in advance to info@coomatechcentre.com.au.

Anyone interested in attending one of the meetings must register, as seating is limited, by phoning 1800 057 590 Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30 am and 7:00 pm AEST.