WA: Liberal premier praises Rudd on low targets

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2008
WA: Liberal premier praises Rudd on low targets

PERTH, Dec 15 AAP - Western Australia's Liberal premier has praised the federal Labor
government for not setting higher targets to cut carbon emissions.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced a maximum cut to emissions of 15 per cent by
2020 if the rest of the world signs a climate pact.

If no pact is signed, Australia will go with an unconditional five per cent cut.

The targets fly in the face of calls from scientists for countries to slash their emissions
by 25 to 40 per cent to avert catastrophic climate change.

But West Australian Premier Colin Barnett said the lower start-up targets were good news.

"That is a more moderate introduction," he told journalists in Perth.

"I do still have some concerns about the July 2010 startup that is not very far away.

"However, clearly the prime minister, the federal government, has listened."

Mr Barnett said the scheme contained new concessions for producers of liquefied natural
gas, which would help ease the burden on the industry.

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KEYWORD: CLIMATE BARNETT

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