No one on either side of the global warming debate has any illusions that a carbon tax will do anything to lower global temperatures. Surely overseas experience has shown beyond doubt that the economic case for the embrace of renewables is now shattered.
During the 2010 election Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan categorically ruled out a carbon tax. This has subsequently been shown to be a dishonest claim and an election ploy to win votes.
The Gillard Government has included the incomplete mining tax in its budget but, for reasons best known to them, have failed to account for their carbon tax. What are they trying to hide?
No one in the Government has attempted to explain to the electorate the administration costs of the carbon tax, cost to the consumer, cost to industry or explained the 10 per cent promised to the United Nations Green Fund.
An interesting situation has now arisen with the Northern Territory Legislative Council calling for the Territory to be exempted from the tax for 50 years. If the tax is so essential for jobs and growth, it is indeed a strange request from the Territory to be granted an exemption.
Why would any competent government endanger an economy with a four before unemployment, less than three per cent inflation, balance of trade at a 140 year high, with a debt ratio to GDP of some seven per cent and an economy the envy of the developed world, introduce a tax which would destroy all that this hard working nation has achieved. Clearly the only motive is a grab for power and additional revenue which can only be assured with the support of the Greens and Independent members of parliament.
During the 2010 election campaign only one of the 150 members of the House of epresentative called for the introduction of a carbon tax.
The Gillard Government and those who support the carbon tax have no mandate to introduce such a measure and if the government is to have any legitimacy and integrity, before proceeding further they should place the matter before the electorate either in the form of a referendum or general election.
Don Campbel
