Polluters Pay

A carbon price is a price tag on pollution paid by industry.  It is not paid by individuals or households. The largest companies in our economy, emitting the largest amounts of pollution, will be required to pay a price for every tonne of pollution they emit. This will encourage industry to cut pollution so they pay less. Each large company emitting a large amount of pollution will be required to buy a permit for every tonne of pollution they emit.

The price of that permit is the carbon price.

The Government will use every cent raised from the permits to:

• Provide generous assistance to help with family budgets
• Protect jobs as businesses make the transition to a clean energy economy
• Invest in climate change and clean energy programs.

Importantly, a relatively small number of companies produce the largest amount of pollution.

The latest National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting data shows that the 50 largest polluters account for over 50 per cent of Australia’s carbon pollution.

When you exclude sectors that will not be covered by the carbon price, the 50 largest polluters will be responsible for around two thirds of carbon liabilities.