Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Those opposite seem to be pursuing a path of reregulation, a path of stifling commercial opportunity and stifling change. The EU ETS is the largest and most liquid carbon market in the world, and those opposite know that. The Australian government's longstanding policy is that international linking is in our national interest because it will help us to reduce emissions at the lowest cost. The government has secured agreement, as this chamber has been advised, with the European Commission that from 1 July 2015 Australia's emissions trading scheme will be linked with the EU ETS. That means from 1 July 2015, Australia's carbon price will reflect that of our second-largest trading bloc and be consistent with 30 other countries.