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Post by admin on Jul 29, 2011 9:03:00 GMT 10
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has labelled the federal government's planned clean energy regulator as "a draconian new police force".
Inspectors working for the organisation the government wants to police its carbon pricing scheme from July 2012 will be able to obtain warrants to search premises of companies and search or examine any activity on site as well as copy documents.
The regulator will have the authority to demand information from company officers even if it could incriminate them.
Fraud or attempts to subvert the scheme can be punished by up to 10 years in jail or fines of $1.1 million for corporations.
"This is a draconian new police force chasing an invisible odourless, weightless, tasteless substance," Mr Abbott told the Nine Network on Friday.
Details of how the Clean Energy Regulator will administer an inspection regime are contained in draft legislation released by the government on Thursday.
Climate Change Minister Greg Combet insists the provisions are similar to those contained in existing corporations and consumer law.
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