AUSTRALIAN WATER ASSOCIATION
ABN 78 096 035 773
Level 6, 655 Pacific Hwy
PO Box 222, St Leonards NSW 1590
Tel +61 2 9436 0055 Fax +61 2 9436 0155
TRUSTED LEADERSHIP IN
SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT
MEDIA RELEASE
15 December 2008
Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Deserves Industry Support
The Australian Water Association has called for Australian industry to support the Government’s Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), the details of which were released in Canberra today by the Prime
Minister.
Commenting on the lower than anticipated 2020 emission reduction target announced in the Federal
Government White Paper, Tom Mollenkopf, Chief Executive of water industry representative group the
Australian Water Association said that a more tightly constrained emissions target would be of benefit to the
water industry and, ultimately, consumers.
“Deferring action now will only put off harder and more costly decisions to the future. While the water industry
recognises that there are limits to what can be achieved by Australia going it alone, the AWA would
encourage the Government towards a 15% reduction target, rather than the 5% minimum,” said Mr
Mollenkopf.
The Australian water industry is the ‘canary in the coalmine’ with regard to climate change, according to the
Association. “The impacts on the Murray Darling system are already evident. Perhaps what is not so clear
to the community is the dramatic reduction of inflows to our urban dams and storages that has occurred over
the past 20 years”, Mr Mollenkopf continued. “It is becoming increasingly clear that the decline in rainfall
experienced in major urban areas, particularly Perth and Melbourne, may be permanent.”
In addition, the Association points out that permanent water restrictions, large-scale new investment in water
infrastructure and loss of productive land and businesses are all real and significant costs.
“Consumers are bearing the costs associated with climate change, which will continue to impact all
Australians now and into the future. Water price rises are already occurring in Melbourne and Sydney. Price
For interviews and further information please contact:
Edie Nyers, Communications and Marketing Manager
AUSTRALIAN WATER ASSOCIATION
Tel: (02) 9467 8416 Mob: 0401 806 277 Email: enyers@awa.asn.au
rises can also be expected in other cities across the nation. Consumers will benefit in the long-term by
industry making an effective contribution to a low carbon future”, Mr Mollenkopf said.
Mr Mollenkopf also commented that the CPRS is not a new tax on business, it is a means of internalising
costs that have, until now, been borne by the environment, and by extension every Australian.
“Carbon emissions are posing a cost on the Australian community, so incorporating that cost in the cost of
doing business is appropriate”, Mr Mollenkopf said.
“To think otherwise is to assume that costs should be absorbed by the community or the environment” he
concluded.
ENDS
NEWS 
