The NSW energy minister has rebuffed claims a state submission to a federal energy review has called for a carbon tax.
The state government is calling on an inquiry into the future of the national electricity market to consider a market mechanism for an “orderly energy generation transition” which ensures an “appropriately diversified energy mix within the national electricity market.”
Don Harwin says that’s not a carbon tax but the review should “look at all of the options” to create new investment in energy.
‘A tax is a tax, an intensity scheme is something quite different,’ he told the Seven Network on Monday.
‘The scheme is something that the Finkel review needs to look at.’
In its submission to the Finkel review, the NSW government says the lack of a nationally integrated energy and climate policy has prevented investment in transitional energy sources.
Such a mechanism should welcome new technologies and allow them to provide energy services on a level playing field.
