The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, has announced that regulations to establish the Jobs and Competitiveness Program under the Clean Energy Act 2011 are now in place.

 

The Jobs and Competitiveness Program will provide assistance to aid the most emissions-intensive trade-exposed industries, such as steel manufacturing, aluminium smelting and petroleum refining, whose prices are set by international markets to prosper in a carbon constrained economy.

 

Assistance will be provided through the allocation of free carbon permits based on historical average emissions baselines for each emissions-intensive, trade-exposed activity.

 

“This provides a direct incentive for industry to reduce carbon pollution because firms that invest in clean energy and efficiency measures will benefit under the Program,” Mr Combet said.

 

The Clean Energy Amendment Regulation 2012  is available on the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency website atwww.climatechange.gov.au/government/initiatives/jobs-competitiveness-program.aspx.

 

The Government will add activities by amendment to the regulations as they are assessed under the Program.