No surprise ….
Peter Ker
July 19, 2008
A CONSULTANT is being paid almost $500,000 to review the State Government’s climate change policy.
As the Australian economy prepares to integrate a carbon trading scheme by 2010, the Government confirmed it had sought private help worth $493,015 to audit its environmental program for possible inconsistencies.
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu began work on the review last month, and will continue until November.
Nick Talbot, a spokesman for Environment Minister Gavin Jennings, defended the cost, saying it was “prudent” for the Government to review policy.
“The Brumby Government is reviewing its existing climate change programs to make sure they are effective (and) consistent with each other and with the imminent emissions trading scheme,” he said.
But The Age believes the review will not investigate several environmentally contentious Government projects such as the proposed desalination plant near Wonthaggi. Critics say desalination is an inappropriate response to climate change-induced drought given its intense carbon emissions.
Please read on in The Age - Desalination plant not included in $500,000 climate change review
