Friday 15 August 2008

Carbon paper a potential train wreck

Summaries - Australian Financial Review
Monday 21/7/2008 Page: 4

The Australian Rail Association has criticised the Federal Government's decision to subsidise the trucking industry and not the rail industry when an emissions trading scheme (ETS) is introduced in 2010.

The association's chief executive, Brian Nye, said it was ‘bizarre' that train users had not been given similar protection under the ETS, ‘while car users causing pollution, congestion, and health impacts will be compensated.' The arrangements will also affect companies such as Asciano Group (which owns Pacific National), Queensland Rail, and Australian Rail Track Corporation.

Opposition transport spokesman Warren Truss also criticised the plan, which was yesterday defended by Transport Minister Anthony Albanese. He said rail's comparative position would have been vastly improved if the Government's measures to change the cost-recovery arrangements on heavy vehicle road charges had not been blocked by the opposition in the Senate.

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