Carbon tax repeal sparks jump in Australia's electricity emissions

Electricity emissions have jumped since the repeal of the carbon tax, the Climate Council says.

The council cites new data by consultants Pitt & Sherry, showing carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity grid went up 6.4m tonnes in the last financial year since the tax was axed.

The increase of 4.3% has undone part of an 11% fall in emissions during the two years the tax was in place.

The federal government will soon outline Australia’s post-2020 targets, before the Paris conference in December.

“The news that emissions have gone up in Australia will do little to counter the impression that Australia is acting as a ‘free rider’ on the back of other countries’ efforts,” the Climate Council chief executive, Amanda McKenzie, said in a statement on Sunday.

The environment minister, Greg Hunt, has said the country’s future carbon targets will be credible.