CPRS Compensation for Low Income Households Welcome But More Work To Do

Catholic Social Services Australia's Executive Director, Frank Quinlan, has welcomed the release of the Federal Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme White Paper today, saying the focus on a substantial compensation package for low income earners is welcome and well-targeted.

However, speaking shortly after the Prime Minister launched the paper today, Mr Quinlan said the release of the paper raises a number of questions.

"While the Government's commitment to low income households is to be commended, the report makes no mention of funds that will be urgently needed to educate and mitigate the lasting impact of climate change on low income households," Mr Quinlan said.

"The measures to compensate the incomes of low-income households are welcome but we also need to ensure that these households have an opportunity to reduce their energy consumption to protect them from the effects of rising utilities costs for decades to come. The careful implementation of such a mitigation strategy also has the potential to provide low income earners with jobs.

"We must also look to the Harmer review of pensions and the Henry review of the taxation system to ensure this important compensation package is maintained in future.

"In addition, it is difficult to judge whether the funding committed to mitigate the effects of climate change on the community sector itself will be adequate. Substantial modelling will be required to determine how community agencies themselves, often working from older buildings and facilities, can best protect themselves from the effects of climate change.

"There is a desperate need to ensure the Commonwealth Infrastructure Fund is used to invest in infrastructure that will build the capacity of the community and the community sector.

"The Government's National Compact process provides an important opportunity to support the
reform of the community sector," Mr Quinlan said.

In a joint submission to the Prime Ministerial Taskforce on Emissions Trading in April 2007 Catholic Social Services Australia called on the Task Group to assess emissions trading models against the equity principles of responsibility, capacity and vulnerability.

Catholic Social Services Australia provides services to over a million Australians each year through its 67 member agencies in remote, regional and metropolitan Australia.

15 December 2008

CONTACT Judith Tokley 02 6285 1366 / 0408 824 306

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