Senator Brown asked the Minister representing the Minister for Science, upon notice, on 13 March 2003:

(1) Has the Government of the United States of America approached the Australian Government asking for a contribution to, or cooperation with, FutureGen, a proposal to build a coal-fired power station that purportedly emits no carbon dioxide; if so: (a) what was the request; and (b) when was it made.

(2) Does the Government support FutureGen.

(3) Has the Government committed funding, or other support, to FutureGen; if so, can details be provided.

(4) Has the Government committed funding, or other support, to any other international project relating to the capture, transport and underground storage of carbon dioxide: if so, can details be provided.

(5) Will the Government attend the meeting to be held by the Bush Administration at the end of June 2003 to discuss FutureGen and other efforts to store carbon dioxide underground; if so: (a) what is the purpose and the agenda for the meeting; and (b) who will attend the meeting.

Senator Minchin (Minister for Finance and Administration) —On behalf of the Minister representing the Minister for Science, the answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) The United States Government has not approached the Australian Government to provide funding or in-kind support for FutureGen. However, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham has announced that the United States may use the opening meeting of the US Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum in June 2003, to invite other nations to join the FutureGen initiative.

(2) The Australian Government supports the development of initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including zero emission technologies. Australia relies on coal for 85% of its domestic electricity and coal will remain the primary fuel for power generation in the foreseeable future.

The Australian Government considers that FutureGen will make a valuable contribution in developing and demonstrating leading edge technologies that have direct application to Australia.

(3) The Australian Government, whilst supporting initiatives for the development of zero emissions technologies, has provided no funding or in-kind support to the FutureGen project.

(4) The Australian Government's support for international projects on the capture, transport and storage of carbon dioxide, has been directed at facilitating international collaboration including through the International Energy Agency, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, and bilateral agreements, involving the Australia-United States Climate Action Partnership and Australia's Practical Collaboration on Climate Change with Japan.

Support has also included financial assistance given to the GEODISC program undertaken by the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies (CO2CRC) and facilitation of the CO2CRC's programs both domestically and internationally. Other assistance has included Australian Greenhouse Office support for an Australian lead author on the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report and sponsorship of the CO2CRC's attendance at the IPCC Regina meeting in Canada.

(5) The Australian Government believes the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum, being initiated by the United States, is an important vehicle to enhance the international collaboration needed to address the technical, legal and policy issues associated with carbon sequestration. Australia will, therefore, be an active participant in the Leadership Forum and is currently considering the composition of its delegation to the Forum.

The United States anticipates that the Forum will provide an opportunity for Ministerial-level representatives to discuss the growing body of research and technologies for carbon capture and sequestration. The Forum could provide an opportunity to plan future, multilateral carbon sequestration projects. A draft agenda for the Forum has not yet been circulated.

Other invitees include; Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, the European Commission, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, the Russian Federation, South Africa and the United Kingdom.