Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme guidance paper released

The Department of Climate Change has released a guidance paper for the assessment of activities for the purposes of the emissions-intensive trade-exposed (EITE) assistance program under the Rudd government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

"The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme will start reducing Australia's emissions from next year while at the same time supporting business and industry through our comprehensive assistance measures," Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, said.

"We are very mindful of the potential impact the scheme may have on industry, which is why we have already set aside over $9 billion to assist a range of businesses and industries under the scheme out to 2012.

"Through the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, the government is supporting the jobs of today while building the low pollution economy of the future."

The guidance paper outlines the assessment process and provides guidance to industry on the requirements for this assessment. This is the next step in implementing the decisions made in the government's white paper.

The assessment process will inform the government's decision on which activities in the economy are eligible to receive EITE assistance, the rates of assistance that will apply to eligible activities and the basis for allocations to these eligible activities.

The government will make final decisions taking into consideration the policy framework outlined in the white paper and the information provided in this assessment process. The government's final decisions will be reflected in the scheme regulations.

"The assessment timeframe outlined in the paper will ensure that certainty is provided to as many eligible EITE activities as possible by mid-year in draft regulations," Wong said.

"This will give businesses the certainty they need to invest for the long term, supporting jobs in key industries as we move to a low pollution economy.

"I would encourage all relevant stakeholders to engage fully with this process."

The guidance paper is available on the Department of Climate Change website.