As reported in the news today, China is starting with a token carbon price to mollify its critics. It has shown up the idiot policy of the Greens/Labor to be way ahead of the rest of the world.

"The starting carbon price of $1.55 (10 yuan) from the world's biggest carbon-emitting economy has reignited business concern that Australia's $23-a-tonne starting price from July 1 is too high and will damage business competitiveness.

State-run Chinese media reported that proposals for a new environmental taxation system had already been submitted for review to the Ministry of Finance and were expected to be implemented before the end of the 2011-15 five-year plan.

Australian Climate Change Action advocates expressed cautious optimism about the Chinese reports - arguing that it showed Australia's carbon tax was in front of other international efforts - while critics said the low starting price showed the Australian price was too high."

This is what can happen you you rush in, aiming to the the first cab off the rank.

If this fool of a leader we have as any decency at all, she will go back to the drawing board and come up with a number in line with China. That's provided China doesn't decide to not proceed, which is on the cards.

But i doubt we will see much action here SM, as for most here labor can do no wrong.

Mathematics not your strong point are they Shadow Minister.
Given average incomes and internal prices China can not be expected to charge the same rates as us.
Still ten out of ten for fear mongering and making use of any tool available to get your point launched.

And doesn't that tell you something belly, low wages for the unskilled and a booming economy.

In any case, wages has little to do with it as it is business who once again pays the cost, not the workers.

Now are you suggesting that the Cineese businesses are that less profitable than here.

Our businesses are paying almost 15 times the price of the proposed china plan.

Are we 15 times more profitable?

But the underlying problem still remains, that being, can labor manage this withou stuffing it up.

Let's face it, even the likes of yourself have to admit they have a lousy record in this department.

Belly,

With all due respect, if the carbon tax is to be charged on the "big polluters" --and the Gillard govt has assured us that Australia's will have minimal impact on ground level consumers. And preliminary reports indicate that China's will function in much the same way.
Why on earth would it matter what the *average income* is?

If it is all about *cutting CO2 emissions* surely one would expect China --"which tops the list CO2 emitting countries"-- to be way out in front of OZ.

Instead what we have is -- Australia, dutifully playing the role of a shag on the rock--lumbered with one the biggest carbon taxes in the world, and China talking about one the smallest.

And another thing of concern is that this new *environmentally conscious China* has just announced that it will, quote:
<< boycott a new European Union tax on airline carbon emissions, becoming the latest in a line of countries to challenge the law>>
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-06/china-eu-airline-emissions-tax/3761122/?site=sydney

The Gillard's govt approach to the carbon tax has all the hallmarks on its handling of the Indonesian live meat export fiasco.
A big gesture (designed to impress the Greens) with little thought paid to how it will impact on Australian industries & workers.
http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8278982

And there he is, SM was the one saying it needed to be $40 / ton before it made any difference. What has China got to do with this country, it is just a figure. They probably pay $1 for a kg of steak, there is no comparison.