The Government has today called on Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to guarantee pensioners and seniors will be fully compensated under any alternative Liberal Party climate change policy.

Under the Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, all pensioners and seniors will on average be fully compensated for the costs of acting on climate change.

Mr Abbott has indicated he will provide a detailed and fully costed climate change policy by the time Parliament resumes in February.

That is just 21 days away.

Mr Abbott must guarantee that pensioners and seniors won’t be asked to foot the bill under his alternative climate change policy.

To assist with cost increases under the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, the Rudd Government will provide direct cash assistance to most Australian households.

Treasury modelling found the CPRS would cause prices to rise by 1.1 per cent in 2013 – on average costing a household $624 a year.

Under the CPRS, a total of 90 per cent of all households will receive assistance and on average these households will receive around $660 of compensation in 2013.

Mr Howard, Mr Costello, Mr Turnbull and the Rudd Government all believe a CPRS is necessary to act on climate change because:

• It is the cheapest most effective way to reduce carbon pollution;
• It puts a hard limit on emissions; and
• It funds compensation for families.

Over thirty countries, including all of the European Union, Japan, the United States of America, and New Zealand have either introduced or are introducing a CPRS.

Assistance under the CPRS Household Assistance Package

Description	Annual private  income	Average annual impact of CPRS	Total annual assistance under Household Assistance package	Net Gain
Single pensioner: full rate	$0	$286	$455	$169
Single pensioner: part rate	$25,000	$409	$1162	$753
Couple pensioner: full rate	$0	$403	$686	$283
Senior: single	$45,000	$452	$1099	$647
Senior: couple	$75,000	$1602	$2284	$682