PM promises carbon trading action

Prime Minister John Howard has vowed to take important steps to establish a carbon emissions trading scheme.
He says the Federal Government will respond quickly to a major new report due on Thursday that spells out the options for setting up a carbon trading scheme.
Mr Howard says setting a price on greenhouse gas emissions is the only meaningful way to tackle climate change.
He told a Business Council dinner last night Australia must consider going ahead without a global system.
"In an ideal world, Australia would not be implementing an emissions trading system without there being a global scheme being introduced at the same time," he said.
"But dealing with reality as distinct from the ideal, it's fair to say that we're not going to see a global scheme anytime soon...
"I know it's appeared on occasions over the last six months that the Government has not been responding as rapidly as some people would've liked.
"I acknowledge that but our response - it will be a response that will be seen as a mature, balanced long-term response."