The Australian Government has released a timetable for the introduction of emissions trading.
The Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, announced the following target dates last week:

• March to June 2008: preliminary consultations on technical issues with industry and non-government groups
• July 2008: public release of a Green Paper on emissions trading design, drawing on preliminary consultations
• December 2008: public release of exposure draft legislation
• March – Mid 2009: Bill considered by Parliament
• 2009: Consultation on emissions trading regulations
• 3rd quarter 2009: Act enters into force, regulator established
• 2010: Emissions Trading Scheme will commence.

The detailed timetable is available here.
The Minister emphasised the Government’s intention to consult widely with community on the design and implementation of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The current work of the Garnaut Climate Change Review will be one of several key inputs to the design of the ETS. The Garnaut Review team released a discussion paper on the design of an Australian ETS on 20 March; the paper is available here . Submissions on the paper will be received until 18 April.