Mr Abbott claims to have a mandate to roll back the Carbon Tax and replace it with the Coalition's Direct Action Policy.
Polifacts Australia tested the statement "All Coalition policies are fully costed and fully funded." and gave it the thumbs down, False rating, specifically noting that "On Direct Action, Abbott argues that the policy was looked at by Treasury following the 2010 election and they "found no fault with it".
Actually, a scathing Treasury note from July 2011 found that: "The economic costs of direct action would almost certainly be even larger because it would be less efficient than a market-based carbon price mechanism."
It also referenced Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency modelling which indicated Direct Action would only achieve a quarter of the abatement promised by the Coalition."
See also Polifacts on Emissions Intensity Falling issues
So does the Coalition have a mandate?
Unfortunately it probably does, which will make the remarkable achievement of the last few years, that of actually getting a Carbon Abatement Policy through the Federal Parliament and seeing it actually work, a sad historical accident in the overwhelming selfishness of Australian Politics.
If the Greens don't hold the balance of power in the Senate, as also seems likely, then we will have to absolutely blitz the Labor Party to hold onto this legislation in the Senate as well as persuade the 'kooky' right wing Senators to keep it in place. Not easy Jan!
But the Labor Party and Greens also had a Mandate in the last Federal Government. They were a Coalition who governed, just like Abbott will be tomorrow, no matter what Tony says or does. Labor & Greens had a mandate based on negotiating a Carbon Price!
But the Labor Party and Greens also had a Mandate in the last Federal Government. They were a Coalition who governed, just like Abbott will be tomorrow, no matter what Tony says or does. Labor & Greens had a mandate based on negotiating a Carbon Price!
But no matter if the worst befalls it - Australia will still go down the path of Global Warming.
CO2 doesn't care if Kevin or Tony wins tomorrow.
Our insurance premium's will go up as more of our fragile buildings experience climate extremes
, electricity prices will go up as we rack on the air-conditioning and the Renewable Energy industry will get crafty in obtaining investment and demonstrating to knowledgeable people that they are already cheaper than the current providers. If my local neighbours are telling me they will go off grid as soon as possible, then they will once storage technology becomes feasible.
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| Leptospermum scoparium 'Nanum Rubrum' flowers |
Mark Diesendorf, Uni NSW & friends released a report showing the march towards renewable energy is almost unstoppable. Lets hope so for all our sakes.
Meanwhile my spring flowers are enjoying the record breaking above 20 degree start to September in Victoria! Lets hope the garden survives the coming hot summer.
Hoping the Liberals will be as bad as they have promised - implementing their penny pinching, climate change denying policies - so they'll be a one term government!
ReplyDeleteDear Alison. Thanks for your comment. I rather think, judging by past performances, the Australian people will keep the Liberal/Coalition on for at least 2 terms. While I think some of the reforms in the climate change area will be ditched by the Liberals, the biggest problem of making climate change an intimate part of business and personal life will not happen. My fear is that we will export huge amounts of coal, oil and gas thereby leading to rampant weather effects throughout the world.
DeleteEven our wealth will not be enough to afford the massive changes needed to protect property and personnel from extreme storms, bushfires, floods, sea level rises and heatwaves. The chance to do something good for everyone will be lost by greed and stupidity.