SM and Rehctub,

Let's wait and see what develops. 2013 is a way off yet.
We'll have to wait and see who amongst us was right and who was wrong.
To me from all that I've seen, and read, and observed - I wouldn't
discount the PM winning the next election. I mean, look at the alternative - can you really put your hand on your heart and say that
you'd really want Mr Abbott as the next PM - or would you prefer Barnaby Joyce? Come on. Julia Gillard has taken everything rather well. What with personal attacks, and all the negativity she's had to cop. And why - because Mr Abbott wants to be PM. He doesn't give a stuff about anything else. But as I said - let's wait and see. Perhaps reason will prevail. Australian voters usually get it right in
the end. They certainly made their views felt at the last election.
They will again at the next one.

rehctub, you're seeing a small portion of the big picture only. In the long term we will be gaining a competitive advantage as the rest of the world continues to move towards ETS type systems.

It's better to take a hit now, which is what you refer to, while our economy is so strong, rather than being forced to make these changes later when the economy may not be in such good shape. The pain would be a lot worse and we'd have lost the opportunity to get ahead of the pack.

BTW I guarantee the polls will turn around within the next few months, if not weeks. Industry and unions are starting to get behind the tax already and people will soon wisen up to Abbott's lack of credibility.

Tman, this is where you are wrong. Our economy is not strong, our mining industry is.

Apart from mining there is literally nothing else that is making the wheels turn.

Speak to any tradie and they will tell you unless they have government contracts, they are screwed. Ironically, a large portion of gov contracts are fixing stuff ups.

Then there is the increases confusion caused by an incompitent pm who can't, or won't tell the 500 biggest poluters just they are.

The best way to stall an economy is to install concussion and uncertainties.

rehctub,

"Nope, the reality is (and as most tier one data shows), the Australian economy is doing very well indeed. The idea that the non-mining economy is in a recession is pure fiction, as shown by the strong growth in domestic demand in the first quarter and the surge in full-time jobs growth in both New South Wales and Victoria..." Adam Carr, Senior Economist writing for Business Spectator July 11, 2011.
Available here:
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Carbon-tax-emissions-inflation-economy-clean-energ-pd20110711-JMT4L?OpenDocument&src=sph

It's actually a really good critical analysis of the economic implications of the CT package.

Lexi,

Abbott is trying to bribe labor MPs. Now that is a wild assertion, I doubt you can back that up.

I would take Abbott over Juliar any day. Juliar's sole motivation behind the carbon tax, pokie tax etc is to satisfy those upon whom she depends for power. She will say and do anything.

Trash,

Firstly we can't open the document, and secondly your comment flies in the face of the terrible retail, tourism, and manufacturing numbers.

I work in heavy industry, and I can't name one that is not hurting.