I wish I could see the logic of shipping our bauxite & coal to China, just to have them burn that coal to generate electricity to smelt the aluminum there in China, rather than do it in Oz. After all we had, & should still have, the competitive advantage of the cheapest power in the world, with all that beaut steaming coal, right where we need it.

It makes even less sense to shut down our own aluminum industry, & then ship that aluminum made from our bauxite & coal, from china, back to Oz.

Roses just how does this makes sense economically, or or ecologically. I really would like you to explain this to me. At least then I'll know which of us is talking rubbish.

I guess you have to be an arts/law graduate, like our Julia to be able to understand the ridiculous.

Logic is prohibited in Australia.

Even though electricity has been in use for 130 years, a way of storing electricity cheaply has never been found, and so our power networks must keep production and consumption in balance if the voltage is to remain steady at 240 volts.
Because of our very low level of hydro power, aluminium refineries are essential for maintaining this stability. The power to the refineries is provided at the convenience of the generating authorities, and so can be used to keep the network balanced.

There is a low-tech electricity storage facility that has been operating for decades in Scotland - water is pumped up hill to a storage dam when power is cheap/surplus and released to generate hydro power at periods of peak demand. As hydro power can be easily turned on an off, and is cheaper than building surplus capacity into coal fired power stations just to cater for everyone deep-frying their Mars Bars at the same time each night.

If we are serious about reducing carbon emissions it makes sense to use Australian smelted aluminium rather than Chinese. I struggle to understand how the current carbon tax with its subsidies and exclusions is going to reduce emissions at all. I would prefer to see an across the board tax on embedded carbon - which would factor in the carbon cost of production methods, transport etc. Given that Australia is an efficient producer but is 'penalised' for having decent wages and conditions, and ECT could redress the balance, reduce emissions and level up the playing field.

In the meantime if anyone can explain why the cheapest frozen spinach in my supermarket now comes from the Netherlands, I'd be most grateful.

"In the meantime if anyone can explain why the cheapest frozen spinach in my supermarket now comes from the Netherlands, I'd be most grateful."

Perhaps, like tinned tomatoes, Euro subsidies (ie thank the Euro tax payer for making your imported Spinach cheaper) and and cheap illegal labour ?

http://www.smh.com.au/national/canned-why-local-tomatoes-cop-a-pasting-20120526-1zc2q.html

why the cheapest frozen spinach in my supermarket now comes from the Netherlands,
Candide,
For exactly the same reason why an 8 foot dinghy trailer costs $90.- to register here.
Everything is totally out of proportion now courtesy of ALP Governments.