The Wire

Julia Gillard today announced the details of the new multi-party climate change committee. Gillard herself will head the committee, Greens senator Christine Milne will also take part, as will independent Tony Windsor. Together, they’ll look into ways of placing a price on carbon. The government has left the way open to introduce an interim carbon tax before an emissions trading scheme is implemented down the track. But many experts are now saying that a carbon tax could serve as a permanent part of our response to climate change. The green consensus on emissions trading may be fragmenting, as some environmentalists and economists swing their support behind a permanent carbon tax instead.