Another probe set for emissions trading

Plans for emissions trading appear to be up in the air after the federal government
called a fresh inquiry into the scheme.
The surprise move has sparked speculation the government could delay, overhaul or
ditch its main plan to tackle climate change.
Labor has promised to start emissions trading next year and has finished an
intensive process to design the scheme.
Now it's back to the drawing board.
Treasurer Wayne Swan has asked a parliamentary committee to investigate whether
emissions trading is the best option for Australia after all.
The new inquiry, by the House of Representatives economics committee, will "inquire
into the choice of emissions trading as the central policy to reduce Australia's
carbon pollution".
The inquiry will report back in the second half of the year. Laws on emissions
trading are supposed to be passed before then.
A spokesman for Mr Swan said the inquiry was standard practice and would allow the
committee to reinforce the government's approach to reducing pollution.
But Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull said the government was having second thoughts.
"You can see the government is getting ready to abandon the emissions trading
scheme," Mr Turnbull told parliament.
"What's going to happen if the house economics committee concludes that the
emissions trading scheme is not an appropriate response, and it's already been
legislated for?"
The opposition's spokesman on emissions trading, Andrew Robb, said the government
appeared to be backing off on the emissions trading scheme.
"It seems to be they're running around like headless chooks on this," Mr Robb said.
Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had experienced an
epiphany and realised emissions trading would force people out of work.
Australian Greens climate change spokeswoman Christine Milne asked why there was yet
another inquiry after the government had ignored the advice of previous inquiries.
Senator Milne said the government could be seeking to delay the scheme until after
crucial UN talks in Copenhagen this year.
Greenpeace spokesman Steve Campbell said he hoped the inquiry would result in a
better scheme to tackle climate change.
The government's proposed scheme was ineffective, and the target of reducing
emissions by five to 15 per cent by 2020 was "appallingly low", he said.
The government's plan has been attacked by conservationists as being too weak and
too generous to business, while some industries are concerned it will cost them
business and jobs.