Federal Member for Throsby Stephen Jones says Tony Abbotts deceit on climate change has been exposed again with Chinas announcement that the first of its seven pilot emissions trading schemes will commence on 17 June this year.

The Chinese commitment to work with Australia to reduce carbon emissions blows the top off Tony Abbotts claims that we are going it alone as a nation in the fight against climate change.

Covering 635 companies, the Shenzen Emissions Trading Scheme will cover even more companies than Australias carbon price.

China recognises the threats posed by climate change and has pledged to reduce the carbon emissions intensity of its economy by 17 per cent of 2010 levels by 2015 and by 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2020.

The Australian Government has been working closely with China to share information on the design and implementation of emissions trading schemes after the success of the carbon price introduced in July 2012, said Jones

Weve seen a great deal of revenue from the carbon price being invested in clean and renewable energy across the country."

Even here in the Illawarra and Southern Highlands weve seen Wingecarribee Shire Council receive over $380,000 for a nursery expansion project and Landcare Illawarra get more than $50,000 to protect endangered ecological communities.

The Low Income Energy Efficiency Scheme, which is funded by the carbon price, also gave the Salvation Army in the Illawarra $350,000 to help reduce the energy costs for financially at risk locals.

For the past three years the Opposition has mislead Australians about a price on carbon and the action being taken by countries around the world, including Australia to tackle dangerous climate change, said Jones.

The world is moving to a low carbon future and Australia cannot afford to be left behind. A price on carbon is the economically responsible way to address this environmental threat.