Rudd thought that, in Copenhagen, he would be seen as a man of the future, a visionary, a world Statesman, one with an ETS in place. He came out of Copenhagen as a nobody!

Being a pragmatist, he saw that the tide had turned on the ETS issue and that it was unpopular because it would cost money. His back-flip was one to rival the final of the diving at the Olympic Games.

Rudd is not a man to be trusted (and Abbot isn't much better).

Australian politics is going down the plughole.

I don't know about that Dave, I reckon even if he had an ETS at Copenhagen, he still would have been a nobody.

It amazes me that so many Australians have such a huge puffed up ego.

Do people really think that everyone is going to be impressed with what some pissant country on the other side of the world whose main industry is digging holes does or thinks?

To the warmists and this author - get over yourselves, if you want to be activists fine, but get some perspective. For a start try doing something locally, like planting more trees or getting your local eco group to pool their money, buy some land and do something. Why is it always demands that the government do this or that, with tax money - if you want action, go do it - but if I don't agree with that use, why do I have to pony up?

If the government doesn't do what you want, you can still do something, granted it may not get you the big pat on the head and fame, but what is it you're really after - is it change or do you want someone else to always do the lifting and you just chanting on the sidelines, while maintaining your cushy lifestyle.

It seems to me to be easier to get the government to do something than to do anything yourself, that's certainly the message from our youth.

Amicus: It is governments that are being lobbied and exploited by big business to ignore climate change, so it is governments that must be lobbied to *not* being swayed just by one set of stakeholders.
Why should certain business be propped up by the rest of us, and why shouldn't we expect them to represent the common good instead of limited profits?
Saying "go away and plant a tree like a good hippie while the rest of us consume your taxes and your kids resources" will not really cut it!
I'll say this for the Right...they have cheek. After being totally selfish and greedy they don't bat an eyelid accusing others of being selfish and greedy for objecting to their actions

Amicus reality passes you by doesn't it? It was all a waste of time all these laws the governement makes, after all people will do the right thing. Hell think of all the tax money we would save if we didn't spendit on making rules and enforcing them. clean air act gone, police gone, parking inspectors gone.....if only Ronald Regan was king of the world.

To the rest Rudd is a poly would a hard line stance get him reelected ? that the question he has asked himself? Poly's change tack all the time remeber Little Jonnies "Never ever" line on GST?

Tom, you've forgotten that your man, Mr Abbott and the rabid right in the Senate, led by Mr Minchin supported by the greens and independents are responsible for the shelving of the ETS. With plenty of assistance from all media forms,those opposed to the idea of climate change got what they wanted. And....they're still moaning......

no ocm, not "those opposed to the idea of climate change got what they wanted" at all

It was those against paying a tax for reducing CO2 induced man made climate change - so get off this bandwagon that people don't agree the climate changes, of course it does only a misguided fool would think it doesn't or think that other people believe that.

What would an ETS do? Would it do anything, of course not, it was a feel good tax, people even proposed using the proceeds on health reform.

It was a TAX for the sake of taxing, as all good ALP governments do .. like the big Keating lie, L.A.W. tax cuts haha didn't you all suck that one up, and you have the nerve to mention PM John (MOS)Howard and the GST, he went to an election on it, and got it, it was a MANDATE.

It was not the opposition, media etc who put the ETS away, it was a government with no balls that gave up on it. Maybe they realized it was only good to thrash the populace in a blame game.

The government didn't sell it well enough, end of story, trying to blame it on someone else is just weak, but that's what the Rudd government is, weak.

What a bunch of crybabies ..