Outcome:	1.  Environment		Question No: 27
Sub-Outcome:  	Australians working together to meet the challenge of climate change

Division/Agency: 	Australian Greenhouse Office

Topic: 	Climate Change
Hansard Page ECITA:		Written question on notice

Senator Brown asked:
What work has been undertaken to describe and quantify the costs of climate change for Australia?  Please list all relevant studies and provide a copy of reports and analyses.

Answer/s:
Marsden Jacob Associates prepared a report for the Department on economic issues and methods relevant to costing climate change impacts.  This is available at http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/impacts/publications/pubs/costing.pdf.

Outcome: 	1.  Environment		Question No: 28
Sub-outcome:	Australians working together to meet the challenge of climate change

Division/Agency:	Australian Greenhouse Office
Topic: 	Mandatory Renewable Energy Target
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written question on notice

Senator Brown asked: 
Is there any impediment to the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target scheme being adopted and expanded or extended by individual states and territories?  Does the government support such action?  Please give reasons.

Answer/s:
In the Energy White Paper, Securing Australia’s Energy Future, the Australian Government announced its decision not to increase the MRET target, as it would impose significant economic costs through higher electricity prices.

The Australian Government considers that supporting individual states and territories to adopt and expand the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) would conflict with its clear policy position on MRET and as such, does not support such action.

The Australian Government believes that renewable energy has an important role to play in Australia’s energy mix.  However, there currently exist a number of technical and regulatory barriers which are impeding its widespread penetration.  Rather than increase the MRET, which would impose further costs on industry and affect Australia’s international competitiveness, the Australian Government intends to target and address these barriers.