Multi-Party Climate Change Committee established

The Prime Minister and Minister Combet have announced the establishment of the new Multi-Party Climate Change Committee to investigate options for implementing a carbon price and to help build consensus on how Australia will tackle climate change.

The Prime Minister will chair the Committee, with Minister Combet serving as the Deputy Chair. The Government will invite two representatives from the Coalition, two from the Australian Greens, and representation from independent Members of Parliament. Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne will serve as co-Deputy Chair. Mr Tony Windsor has also already indicated his willingness to be a member of the Committee. The Committee will be advised by a panel of four independent experts - Professor Ross Garnaut, Professor Will Steffen, Mr Rod Sims and Ms Patricia Faulkner.

Minister Combet also announced he would establish two roundtables for the business community and the non-government sectors. These roundtables will play an important role providing advice to the Government on the issues surrounding climate change, informing the positions the Government takes to the Climate Change Committee.

Roundtable discussions will focus on the introduction of a carbon price into the economy, particularly the need to give businesses certainty to invest in low-pollution technologies, and may also cover a range of other climate change measures.

More information - Government to seek business, environment and non-government organisations' views on climate change