CANBERRA—Environmental groups want the Federal Government to ramp up spending on public transport and wind back tax breaks for company cars in Tuesday's budget.
Treasurer Wayne Swan is expected to unveil a $2.3 billion climate change package in the federal budget to meet Labor's election promises.
It will include about $860 million to develop low-emissions technology and a $500 million clean coal fund.
"Our whole budget is central to delivering our election commitments, and nothing was more central to the election campaign than climate change," Mr Swan told the Nine Network.
"So this budget will deliver on all of those commitments in climate change that we gave during the last election campaign.
"Climate change is critical to the long-term economic health of the country, and to make environmental sustainability work, we need to commence now. It's going to be a long process."
Climate Institute head John Connor said the election promises were a solid platform to build on.
"But we'll also certainly be looking to what measures they'll do to wind back the FBT (fringe benefit tax) tax break for corporate gas guzzlers, where the investments are for public transport, and for broader energy affordability," Mr Connor said.
"The budget should really be setting the scene for the big decisions later this year when we work out what sort of a target we'll have in the trading scheme and what sort of financing we'll be offering for developing countries as part of the way to get the best global deal."
Feeds