Prior to Copenhagen, there was political consensus, and both sides of politics were committed to putting a price on carbon. This changed hugely when the Copenhagen talks resulted not in the expected global action, but nearly everyone walking away even from Kyoto commitments, and it became clear that Australia would be going it alone.

This in one fell swoop meant that without an equivalent carbon price among competitors, a carbon price would damage industry far more than planned and reduce emissions far less, in other words this changed from environmental action to an expensive gesture. This was a deal breaker.

It's pretty pointless being clean and green if you're broke.

Get the economy going again, reinstate confidence then focus more on climate change.

Not visa versa.

The Greens are not so green.

What have the greens been saying about the 4 main species of Pacific tuna now being at historically low levels?
What were the greens saying in media and parliament while these species were reaching that level?

What have the greens said about marine parks being offshore, 'marine parks' that do not include estuary seagrass food web nurseries that supply food to tuna, whales and birds etc etc ?

Fishermen and farmers are being wrongly blamed.
Evidence of substance shows increased sewage nutrient pollution is causing increase in algae plant matter in oceans and ocean ecosystems.
Algae is killing seagrass, algae is killing the food web, not fishermen.

Consequences include increase in malnutrition and sickness and social and economic collapse among Pacific islands people.
And evidence of substance indicates increased algae plant matter, increased MATTER, is warming areas of oceans via increase in solar photosynthesis.

On Australia's side of that big Coral Sea waterhole out there, Fraser Island has had 7 dead whales in a recent 2 year period. More elsewhere,
Seabirds are presently dead in mass low-population starvation along coast from Queensland to Tasmania and SA.

Australia is now importing over 70% of fish consumed including to feed aquaculture.

Fish are being nicked from waters of under developed countries, virtual robbery that even caused the start of piracy off Somalia.

And T for Tony Abbott has failed to respond to 2 written requests to meet briefly to hear about it and significant employment generating solutions.
To be fair, Rudd also failed to respond.
Like the 'T' party, some leaders appear fully involved in politics and nothing productive.