My final point of objection regarding the Carbon tax legislation is that I am absolutely incensed at the prospect that the carbon units become personal property. This means any person/corporation owning the units are entitled to compensation should a future Australian Government decide to repeal the Legislation. So any future government will find its hands tied should it choose to remove it, especially if the global warming predictions turn out to be completely false, which I believe will become self-evident in time.
I also find it breathtaking that the legislation subjects any future government to the decisions handed down by the carbon regulator — the Climate Change Authority. Unless the government can secure a majority for an alternative target, permitted emissions are automatically cut by up to 10 per cent in a single year, crippling economic activity.
Provisions that merely hinder future parliaments have long been viewed as something to avoid, as they undermine the democratic process. But they are especially harmful where uncertainties abound, as is surely the case for climate change. A government focused on the public interest would seek flexibility, not a straitjacket, especially when the costs associated with changing the legislation being potentially huge.
And who are we helping anyway? The treasury estimates that over half of the carbon units purchased will come from overseas – from countries who have no ability to monitor carbon abatements and/or from corrupt governments. Will this solve a nonexistent problem? How can you sit back and allow Australians to be the fall guy to allow other countries to buy their way to continued pollution via our economy?
I am not impressed with a mere six days to allow for submissions on what is Australia’s biggest tax proposal ever tabled before parliament.
Nor am I impressed with Julia Gillard’s decision to cancel public hearings around Australia on this major issue. What are they trying to hide??
Please let your MP know you don’t want this legislation.
John Doecke
Dalby QLD
