Biggest polluters able to increase emissions under Direct Action – study

'Safeguard mechanism' in Coalition policy is lenient and ineffective, says RepuTex analysis firm, making Direct Action 'untenable' in its current form

Australia's 20 biggest polluters will be able to significantly increase their greenhouse gas output despite being covered by the Abbott government's so-called "safeguard mechanism" and will wipe out most of the emission reductions the government intends to buy from other sectors, according to new analysis which brands the Coalition policy "untenable".

The environment minister, Greg Hunt, says the "safeguard mechanism" - to be imposed on 150 big emitters and announced in detail later this month - will ensure that emissions reductions purchased through the $2.55bn emissions reduction fund (ERF) from things like avoided land clearing or energy efficiency are not displaced by a significant rise in emissions elsewhere in the economy.