Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, upon notice, on 28 September 2010:

(1) Between the release of the Government's green and white papers in 2008 on the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) for Australia, how many times did representatives of the Business Council of Australia or their members meet with:

(a) the Minister or anyone from the Minister's office; and

(b) departmental officials.

(2) Can copies be provided of correspondence, including emails, between the Minister or anyone in the Minister's office or departmental officials and the Business Council of Australia, its representatives or members relating to the development of the CPRS between the release of the green and white papers.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

The former Minister for Climate Change and Water, her Office and departmental officials met with the Business Council of Australia on a number of occasions between the release of the Green and White Papers as would be expected with a group representing major employers. Details are at Attachment A.

A substantial number of meetings were also held with other stakeholder groups during this period, including environmental groups, non-governmental organisations and other business groups.

Attachment B (available from the Senate Table Office) provides all substantial correspondence that occurred between the Business Council of Australia and the Department of Climate Change during this period. Other correspondence, which is not included, related to routine organisation of the meetings outlined in the Attachment(available from the Senate Table Office).

—————

Attachment A

Meetings between the Department of Climate Change and the Business Council of Australia – between the release of the Green Paper (16 July 2008) and the release of the White Paper (15 December 2008).

Attachment B and Attachment

Substantive correspondence between the Department of Climate Change and the Business Council of Australia – between the release of the Green Paper (16 July 2008) and the release of the White Paper (15 December 2008) is available from the Senate Table Office.