Australian climate policy paralysis has to end, business roundtable says

Business and industry alliance sets out climate 'principles', including that climate policy should be 'capable of achieving deep reductions' in emissions

An unprecedented alliance of business, welfare and environmental groups and trade unions is demanding an end to Australia's decade of political paralysis and division on climate policy, insisting the Abbott government make credible emission reduction commitments and the major parties agree on how the pledges should be implemented.

In an attempt to reset the bitter political debate on climate policy, the powerful lineup of interest groups has reached a historic agreement on "principles" that should guide Australia's climate policy.