The other issue I would remind you lot of, is that whether you call it 'global warming' or 'climate change' it's a global issue and should be addressed accordingly.

Going it alone, especially when our costs here are so high was ridiculous as it make our already anti competitiveness even worse.

If we wish to address climate change, it must be done together.Common sense has prevailed.

Rehctub
Quote
“If we wish to address climate change, it must be done together. Common sense has prevailed.”

The fact is if something needs to be done somebody has to lead. Australia can well afford to lead, especially as we are one the worst polluters per head of population instead we have decided to run away.

Warmair, Australia CAN'T afford to lead, and Australia's overall contribution to so called climate change is MINISCULE. Unless the world acts one, it would financially cripple Australia to act, and that's why the previous incompetent government was dismissed by the Australian voters. Universities are here to educate you, and I'd suggest you desperately need to enroll to gain an education in economics. Believe it or not, education is good for you.

In the previous post it should have read "Unless the world acts as one.....".

Yes RIR, while it may be great to feel all warm amd fuzzy, dollars and cents are what drives an economy, not ones feelings and, without a strong economy, (going forward not what's happened) we don't stand a chance because as the world economies tighten up, those countries with litte regard for human rights will not take it sitting down because unlike us, they will simply say to their people, either you work for this much, or you will starve. It truly is that simple.

Do we really want to be in that position holding the climate change banner on our own, because survival in a failing world economy, which could happen as energy prices become unaffordable, will be hard enough as it is.

Besides, the reason we are such high generators per capita is because we supply so much of the worlds demands, only nowadays those exports are relied upon simply to keep the wheels turning as we have so many noses in the trough. Can you imagine life without our exports!

That's the risk of a go it alone carbon tax that was only ever going to increase.

Butcher, many people don't understand, or don't want to understand, the 'tax' leading into an ETS.

The 'tax' was a government revenue stream imposed on the top 500 major emitters of GHG's.

Simply put: 50% was reimbursed to low/middle income earners for the flow on effects, 50% re-invested into 'research'. The latter of which included over a billion dollars a year in subsidies to the coal industry.

Of course, it is more nuanced than that. However, we have now lost that revenue stream. Not only that, every taxpayer will be paying to subsidise not only the coal industry for things like CC&S, but also every other major emitter, not just the top 500.

Not only that, the government will not be replacing that tax revenue stream. Not only that, investing in renewables for products, services and jobs is an opportunity cost - a big one.

"The other issue I would remind you lot of, is that whether you call it 'global warming' or 'climate change' it's a global issue and should be addressed accordingly."

'You lot' - ok, whatever.

Yes, it is a global issue butcher - and many other countries, states and tiers of government and progressive big-businesses are addressing the issues 'accordingly'. We should be a part of that.

Australia is now seen as retrograde laggards.