Dear Belly,

Some people do have selective memories it seems. The Coalition's so called "Direct Action" scheme has a $30 billion budget black hole.
This means the Coalition would need to spend additional tax payer dollars to purchase 75% of the required abatement from overseas at a cost of over $20 billion and they want us to foot this bill.

Reminds me of a Monty Pythom film where the Island is sinking but the king's convinced "she'll be right," and people in the boats are screaming come join us we can save you but the king insists - no we're not sinking - we'll plant trees and we'll be right!

Malcolm Turnbull was excellent on Lateline last night - I loved what he had to say about NBN and also about the ETS. Too bad he's not the
party leader. He should be!

Belly & Shadow, it doesn't really matter.
We cannot afford the costs that are coming our way and in the end we
will not have the cash to pay these bills no matter how they are levied.
It will get very much worse as soon as China's economy takes a slow down.
A lot of commentary seems to be pointing to 2013 as when China's brakes come on.
No one is certain of course but exponential arithmetic says it will happen fairly soon

Belly,

Yes I deny the policy will cost $30bn. That was the figure put out by the Labor government.

As I have said previously, in the long term, there probably will be a price on carbon, i.e. when our major partners adopt one. Until then the direct action is far less damaging to the wallets of the tax payers than the carbon tax. Which is what Turnbull was saying.

sbr108,

"The introduction of a carbon tax has one purpose... generate the funds to reduce the deficit."

No it doesn't.
When our major trading partners introduce their own schemes and we don't then it's likely we will suffer trade or economic sanctions to pull us into line. Then there will be a far more expensive catch-up required to cut our emissions even faster in order to comply with international demands.
Do you really think that the rest of the world will just look the other way when the time comes?

"Swann is the idiot who thinks a set-top box costs $350. He's totally out of touch. "

No he isn't. It's the maximum subsidised amount and includes aerial installation where necessary as well as ongoing support. It's the same scheme that's been underway for the last 18 months and as insisted on by Nick Minchin and the Liberal Party.

Pay attention.

You're the one who's out of touch.

That claim wobbles was so uninformed I did not bother rebutting it.
Now some truth England is to price carbon MUCH HIGHER than Australia.
Quantas has been fined by the EU, for coming from a country that has no ETS.
All true.
Abbott would in power not go ahead with his current policy on this AND OTHER MATTERS.
He how ever nearly cracked yesterday, his demeanor at the food products plant nearly uncovered him,questions on other subjects.
I have seen SM launch a dozen threads,more,charging the ALP with ridiculous prices on ever issue.
He knows as we all do,Abbott has committed to take from tax payers not emitters, a sum I truly believe is 30 billion dollars.
I admit my mistakes take on my home side but SM is not capable of doing either.
PS
Evidence election promises are broken by both sides[ always wrong]Barry is introducing retrospective legislation in NSW, HOW unliberal!

Dear Belly,

Check this out:

http://newmatilda.com/2011/05/16/why-abbotts-budget-economic-twaddle

As one voter commented - "We should expose these type of people and the danger they pose to our nation."

Malcolm Turnbull is doing a pretty good job of it himself though - at long last. I was wondering how long it would take for a prominent Liberal like him to speak out with the truth - rather than being forced to tow the party line. Onya Malcolm - knew you had it in you!