The Australian government’s hesitation to implement a carbon levy on imported cement, lime, and clinker is raising concerns about job losses and stalled climate progress, according to the Financial Review. The Cement Industry Federation, representing major producers like Adbri, Boral, and Cement Australia, warns that the absence of such a levy enables carbon leakage, potentially leading to the offshoring of domestic production and jeopardising up to 1,400 jobs. Imports, primarily from Southeast Asia, currently supply over 40 per cent of Australia’s clinker demand. While an energy expert was appointed in 2023 to explore a carbon border adjustment mechanism, the final recommendations have been delayed until after the May 2025 federal election, with only an interim report released in late 2024.