Whatsiehoosit, I am waiting for the day that the Libs, Nats and Labs go into coalition against the Greens!

The Greens being the most environmentally sensible party (although only just!) will see the light and realise that the reduction of immigration to net zero, the stabilisation of our population and the achievement of a sustainable society are actually right at the core of a true green agenda. They’ll start pushing this and they’ll win massive support and become the government.

Then all the conservative antisustainability politico-dinosaurs will see that the only hope they have is to join forces.

Well…. it is as likely a scenario as the Greens and Nats joining forces!

( :>/

You would have to hogtie every one of them & chain each one to their own 5 ton cement block to get the greens any near the middle of anything.

If he were still alive they would be applying for a 476 visa to bring old Khrushchev in as a policy adviser.

Paul,

The mines already work to environmental plans and not only do they pay corporate tax of 30%, but minerals royalties which in total levy more than 40% of their profits, then you add on payroll tax, fuel tax, GST, carbon tax etc and you will find that the states and commonwealth get a fat slice of the mineral wealth.

I guess you follow the policies of Brown eye Bob, Milne etc, that would close these down and bring in zero revenue.

Paul,

If it came down to it, would you ban mining ?

Would you ban manufacuring ? (So much pollution)

Would you ban irrigation for the production of food ? (So harmful to natural wetlands environments)

Would you ban commercial fishing ? (Empty seas, and disruption to the natural food chain)

So, let's see - what would we be living on, without production on the one hand and the revenue from taxes foregone on the other ?

Hmm, tough choices.

Yes, and that, my friend, is called life.

Surely we should be aiming for sustainable mining (which would, by definition, dig into the soil, the 'Earth Mother'), sustainable manufacturing (with some inevitable emissions), and certainly sustainable agriculture, pastoral activies and commercial fishing (otherwise, what do we eat ?)

OF COURSE, we have to set limits, on environmental damage, pollution, emissions, over-fishing, etc. But merely to live on this earth, we - and all species - have inevitable effects on it.

It's an imperfect world, so how do we maximise production and minimise those effects ? What mix of privation and comfort to we choose, what mix can most of us agree on ?

That's called politics, Paul.

Jo