Belly... your comment is so typical of the Believers. It fails to answer one question posed, and reflects a blind faith that those in Government will be able to make a change to the climate, which they can't possibly do.

Once again I ask why those promoting a carbon tax need to resort to exaggeration and deceit to sell their messge?

What are specific climate influencing measures that will be adopted if the tax happens? No one knows the answer because the government hasn't said and this government is very good at saying one thing and then doing another.

A carbon tax will not have any impact on global climate change!

20 years down the track Australia's minimal reducton to atmospheric CO2 will have accomplished nothing. If there is any truth from the government's climate report, then all the catastrophies predicted will happen regardless of a carbon tax. Thankfully, those predictions are worse case scenarios that are very unlikely to occur.

Don't get sucked in by the alarmist hysteria, the sky is not falling.

Thousands say yes to a carbon tax, Millions say NO.

"A Galaxy poll for News Ltd shows the majority of Australians are against a carbon tax and believe it will leave them worse off financially.

The poll - of 500 people around Australia on June 1 and 2 - reveals 58 per cent are opposed to the tax, with just 28 per cent in favour. The remainder are undecided.

News Limited says two-thirds of voters want Prime Minister Julia Gillard to call an election before introducing the tax, and three-quarters believe it will leave them financially worse off and deliver little or no benefit for the environment.

Only 24 per cent think Ms Gillard has a mandate to introduce the tax.

The poll comes in the wake of Sunday's say yes' rallies across the nation which attracted tens of thousands of supporters who urged the federal government to put a price on carbon dioxide emissions."

What is wrong with you all?
Carbon dioxide is a life support gas that is not harmful to life on earth - up to 5,000ppm which is the level in submarines and spacecraft. Hydroponic tomatoes are grown in greenhouses with 1,000ppm carbon dioxide. Have you heard of any deaths in those work places? If they are so bad, why doesn't WorkSafe close them down?
We need more of it if we are to keep food production up to the level demanded by an increasing world population.
There would be NO LIFE without carbon dioxide gas.

You can usually split environmentally-conscious people into two categories;
1- people who are serious about protecting environment and want simple practical measures to make a difference (by things that DO make a difference)- like promoting alternate fossil fuels, fuel-efficient products, and altering their own conduct accordingly to minimize their blueprint (and end up saving money).
2-people that jump on the trendy carbon bandwagon;
It's not so much the outcome of their behaviour as much as the act paying penance for the environment. Doing it hard for nature is just so noble a gesture. Simply installing a solar panel and lacks the self-absorbed romance and piety.

Personally, I strongly endorse all rights and subsidies to green energy;
However, I think a carbon tax or trading scheme is a scam and the people that are pushing for it are either financial beneficiaries, or morons.
There is absolutely no benefit. People are going to use as much electricity as they feel they need and will simply stop being able to fund other parts of their lives (and these days, we need a lot to stay informed and often, employed).
Meanwhile- measures to promote alternate energy are being drastically scaled back- to accommodate this stupid carbon scheme.
So where exactly is the 'alternative'?

Don't be silly Belly.

After you have tried a few more leaders you are going to co-opt Turnbull to lead the Labor party.

He may even get a second term as opposition leader with Labor, before you chuck him out too.

Believe me, this is more likely than he will lead the libs again. Far to many despise him for them to be that silly.

What is it about economists. Hewson was making a bunny of himself in the media the other day. I think we may have been a bit lucky he & the libs lost that one.

Hasbeen,
When I look back at the party leaders for the past 40 years, it is hard to pick the worst out of Labor or Liberal. Bugger all you could pick as top of crop.

No doubt it has been a poor field I woulddn't back any of them.

Don't give up on Belly yet, he may well see the light and common sence will prevail. I recall him saying that he thought Howard was too tough on refugees and there had to be a better way. I now see that he has altered his stance and thinks the illegal boat people are con artists and shonks. He even thinks Gillard should go, and he can have Turnbull if they want him.

At least Abbott stopped us from getting an ETS, that is worth a few points.