Business opposes environmental controls
The Business Council of Australia is to begin immediately lobbying new-old environment minister Graham Richardson for Australia to repudiate certain future international environmental accords.
BCA assistant director Tony Beck insists that Australian industry will suffer if it has to meet international targets being promoted by the US and Europe for the reduction of greenhouse gases.
"Australia likes to be at the forefront of these developments but we have to accept that we have particular circumstances that make it difficult for us to be out in front. We have to be aware of our national interests", Beck said in Business Review Weekly. "Ultimately, we have to accept the option of not signing future international protocols."