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Monday, 7 November 2011
Page: 8301

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Finance and Deregulation) (12:57): Perhaps I missed it, because I had to have a brief discussion with Senator Xenophon, but what you were quoting from? We might want to come back to that.

I am advised that the Treasury modelling shows that under a carbon price meat product manufacturing is in fact estimated to grow by 12 per cent to 2020 and by some 137 per cent to 2050. I am also advised that most meat processing facilities are likely to fall below the coverage thresholds of the scheme and hence not be directly liable. It is the case that there is dedicated support of some $150 million for the food and beverage processing industry available under the Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program. This sets aside dedicated funds to support the industry to invest in technology or processes to reduce their emissions. The government will also establish a $40 million energy efficiency information guidance program which will help industry peak bodies, including those that support the meat industry, prepare and disseminate informa­tion for their members on how to improve their energy efficiency.

As the senator would know, households are also provided with assistance to cover any increase in cost of consumer goods in the form of the household assistance package to which I have referred previously. To keep this in perspective, the additional Treasury modelling released in September 2011 estimates the carbon price will have an impact of about 0.4 per cent on the consumer price of beef, equating to about 10c a week. I certainly heard your comment about Bindaree Beef. I am advised that officials from DCCEE, the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, have also visited a number of sites, including to Bindaree Beef, to explain the program and either are presenting or have presented at a meat industry workshop in recent times or shortly. My briefing says shortly, but I understand that has already been done.