Carbon emitters face up to $7.3b bill
Paul Osborne
February 28, 2012

AAP

Australia's top 50 carbon-polluting companies could have an initial carbon tax liability of up to $7.3 billion, new figures show.

The latest National Greenhouse and Energy Report, produced by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, details the emissions of the nation's 430 biggest carbon dioxide emitters.

The companies will have to pay the full price of the $23 a tonne carbon tax which comes into effect on July 1, minus any assistance provided by the government.


Their final liabilities will also depend on other factors such as corporate structure.

The carbon tax bill for the top 50 of these companies would be up to $7.3 billion, based on the figures in the latest report.

The top 10 companies in the list alone will be liable for $3.9 billion, minus assistance and other changes to their reported emissions.

Among the biggest emitters on the register for 2010/11 are Macquarie Generation, Delta Electricity, Great Energy Alliance Corporation, International Power and TRUEnergy Holdings.

However the government has offered a range of assistance programs to the heaviest-hit industries, including cement works, petroleum refiners and steel and aluminium makers.

Climate Change Minister Greg Combet told parliament on Tuesday that for many of these businesses the effective carbon price, after free emissions permits were provided, would be reduced from $23 a tonne to $1.30 a tonne.

Mr Combet was announcing the start of regulations to establish the Jobs and Competitiveness Program under the government's clean energy laws.

The program would provide significant assistance to help emissions-intensive, trade-exposed industries manage the impact of the carbon price, while maintaining incentives for them to reduce their carbon pollution.

"Supporting energy efficiency and productivity in our emissions-intensive manufacturing industries is important to remaining globally competitive into the future," Mr Combet said.

The final list of companies to pay the full carbon price, and their liabilities, will be produced after the Clean Energy Regulator takes over the management of the emissions register and carbon pricing mechanism on April 2.

The department's greenhouse and energy data officer Ross Carter said it was not possible to calculate the exact carbon tax liabilities from the current data, as companies needed to use their own data.

But Mr Carter said it was important the companies understood their emission reporting and carbon pricing obligations.

© 2012 AAP

The polluters will not pay one cent in the carbon tax, that bill will be paid by the consumer.


The title should read Australian consumers will pay $7.3 Billion for a carbon tax they did not want.

____ wrote on Feb 29^th, 2012 at 6:53am:



Is that a green's policy, that Australian should foot the carbon bill for other countries?

We produce less than 2% of the world's total carbon output, but that is not enough for the greens, now you geniuses want us to pay for the carbon outputs of china, india and japan as well.

No wonder you people are rightly considered as economic morons.


We only pay for our carbon output, if those other countries want to stuff up their economy they will impose a useless tax on their consumers, it's not up to us to pay their bill.

____ wrote on Feb 29^th, 2012 at 7:32am:



How in the hell do you work that out, the top polluters are energy companies their consumers are Australians as we do NOT export electricitiy you moron.

The carbon tax is placed on Australian companies and paid for by Australian consumers.

____ wrote on Feb 29^th, 2012 at 8:06am:



You are truly one of the world's stupid people.

Mining companies don't pay the carbon tax on exports, their major production of carbon is fuel which is exempt from the tax, so why would you even mention them is beyond me.

The major producers of carbon emissions are energy producers, not harvey norman or the people who make mcain super fries.

You need to have your conversations with children as only they are tolerant enough for your level of stupidity.

Its quite simple, businesses can find alternatives to carbon intensive goods and services and avoid paying the tax.
Its no different from householders being less wastefull and finding alternatives.
The modern Australian way is to squeal like a stuck pig instead of doing the hard work to make your business modern and viable into the future.

BigOl64 wrote on Feb 29^th, 2012 at 9:13am:


So you're saying that large industries don't look for every possible means to reduce their costs and so improve their efficiency? That they'll just pay the tax and say buggerit? Funny, that isn't my experience in working for all manner of large corporations over the past 30 years.

____ wrote on Feb 29^th, 2012 at 6:53am:



I am happy to answer that question once you answer my question about the murder and torture in immigration due Howard's and Abbott's policies