I also understand that Tony Abbott's carbon price reversal policy is a cause for concern for many economists and business leaders coming out in todays press, saying that the first thing that Abbott's written in blood oath will do, is cause the price of electricity to rise.

Imagine if a future opposition leader said he'll abolish abolish the GST, then ran a misinformed but populist campaign, gained ascendancy in the polls, then drummed fervour for the removal of a sitting Gov't. Even though the removal of the GST might have many un-thought about negative connotations for the economy of the day.

Would you support such a leader that would openly and outwardly trash economic responsibility in order to gain power SM ?.

I wouldn't, and I don't . And as this goes on, increasingly I won't, when the Gov't does have it's election.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-18/liberals-creating-uncertainty-over-carbon-pricing/3577392

Forget to provide this link in my last post sorry T2

"Would you support such a leader that would openly and outwardly trash economic responsibility in order to gain power SM ?."

T2 - you did.

Business almost universally considers this carbon tax a bad idea for the economy, and removing it in a relatively painless manner is required. Given that in 2 years the Coalition will be in power, business is genuinely worried that it may pay billions for permits that will be worthless in 2 years. Under a carbon tax the energy retailers simply pass the costs on to the consumers.

This huffing and puffing is to protect their investment, and what they want is for the coalition to remove the tax whilst not harming their bottom line, and their comments are the first salvos in a negotiation with the future government.

According to most economists, the 'Opposition' led by its current leader has not shown any substantive economic sense.

So yes, Abbott appears to openly and outwardly trash economic responsibility in order to gain power.

Quanda,

That is absolute drivel. Economists do agree that while a carbon price is the most efficient way of reducing emissions the assumption is that trade competitors are doing the same.

Business and economists agree that a carbon tax without our competitors doing the same will damage our competitiveness, that carbon intensive production will be replaced with similar production in low carbon price countries, and net reduction in global emissions will be close to zero.

The coalition platform is not no carbon price forever, just not before everyone else.

"That is absolute drivel".

I'm off to work - you stick around as much as you like, as you do.