John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to the fact that the meat processing industry is a highly carbon-intensive industry with major emissions flowing from the use of anaerobic ponds and the use of coal in boilers. Given there is relatively no inexpensive method of reducing emissions in the meat processing industry and other alternatives require large investments in replacement capital items, can the minister outline the number of meat processing companies in Australia which are currently above the 25,000 tonne threshold and therefore are required to pay the carbon tax directly, and also how many of those would qualify for assistance under the clean energy Jobs and Competitiveness Program?