The Federal Government has announced the creation of a new non-government roundtable to provide advice on climate change policies.

The roundtable will include leaders from across the community sector, including local government, unions, social services and environmental groups.

It will provide advice to the Government on the introduction of a new carbon price, including issues of household assistance, jobs growth and sustainability surrounding climate change.

The roundtable will be co-chaired by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, and the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Tony Burke.

Joe Ludwig, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, will also be a member.

Local government will be represented on the roundtable by Australian Local Government Association president Geoff Lake.

Other member organisations include Australian Conservation Foundation; The Climate Institute; World Wide Fund for Nature; Greenpeace Australia Pacific; ClimateWorks Australia; Monash Sustainability Institute; Australian Council of Trade Unions; Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union; Australian Workers’ Union; Electrical Trades Union; Australian Council of Social Service; World Vision; Brotherhood of St Laurence; Coast and Climate Change Council; National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling; Australian Landcare Council; North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance; and Australian Youth Climate Coalition.

Rountables will be held monthly in Canberra until the end of 2011. Involvement will be voluntary and no remunderation will be paid to members.