Set up in 1998, after Howard had to show some action while nixxing Kyoto. Produced four papers on Emissions Trading, which were roundly ignored…
“The extent of policy failure in this domain is increasingly evident. An independent audit of the AGO showed it to be ineffectual in relation to its proclaimed goals and its budget massively underspent. Australia has made no moves to develop joint implementation projects (Article 6 of the Kyoto Protocol), to support the Clean Development Mechanism (Article 12) or to establish national or international emissions trading (Article 17) despite parliamentary and AGO interest in such a scheme.”
Christoff, P. (2005) page 36
Christoff, P. (2005) Policy Autism or Double-Edged Dismissiveness? Australia’s Climate Policy under the Howard Government. Global Change, Peace & Security, Vol 17, 1, pp. 29-44.
The Business Council of Australia, in conjunction with the Australian Institute of Company Directors, has established a “Dialogue Process” with the Australian Greenhouse Office, thereby establishing its place as the principal stakeholder consulting with the Office. See David Buckingham, “Strategic Greenhouse Issues for Australia”
(Rosewarne, 2003:20) [Actually, from reading the Buckingham speech, it seems to have been a one-off?]
Rosewarne (2003) The Kyoto Protocol and the Australian State’s Commitment to Capital Accumulation, Capitalism Nature Socialism, 14:1, 1-36, DOI: 10.1080/1045575030856551
See also Hamilton, 2001 and 2007. Hamilton is good on how it was neutered by allowing Nick Minchin and another to co-control it alongside the Environment Minister (Robert Hill, at least initially)
marchudson.net 