The Greens Leader - Senator Bob Brown (centre)
with Greens Deputy Leader - Senator Christine Milne
and
House of Representatives Member for Melbourne -
Australia's current version of the carbon tax passed the Senate and into law to-day. There was great cheering in the Senate with The Greens indulging in celebratory hugs and kisses. Don't blame them. A lot of work has gone into coming this far. A few words of caution though - how far will this take us? That is the unknown ..but the work of the climate change sceptics and deniers and their supporters is not an unknown quantity and the current Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, has promised that - if and - when he becomes Prime Minister he will repeal the legislation. So this is not the end of a story...it is one more chapter in a saga whose end is yet to be finally proven, settled, and law becomes a lifestyle.
1.
Carbon emissions tax
for the 500 biggest polluters starts on July 1, 2012
2.
Tax moves to an
emissions trading scheme in 2015
3.
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4.
Tax begins at a fixed
price of $23 a tonne and rise by 2.5 per cent a year until 2015.
5.
Tax will not apply to
agricultural emissions or light on-road vehicles
6.
Electricity generation,
stationary energy, some business transport, waste, industrial processes and
fugitive emissions will be covered by the initial tax
7.
Average households will
see a $9.90 weekly cost rise
8.
Average households will
receive assistance of $10.10 weekly
9.
Free carbon permits
will be the given to the most emissions-intensive and trade-exposed industries
10.
The government wants to
cut pollution by 80 per cent by 2050.
(Source: Australian government)
Prime Minister Julia Gillard hugs Greg Combet, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.
Labor had its moment in the sun and of self-congratulation on October 12 last when the legislation passed the House of Representatives with the support of the one Green member in the lower house and two independents, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott.
Now we wait...
- for the implementation of the legislation
- for the surprise of the electorate when the legislation works without hardship or a jobs crisis
- to see the making and breaking of political leadership: Gillard or Abbott
- to see more artful dodging and vile slander from the sceptics
- to cheer for Australia as she makes a major contribution to caring for our planet, other species, and ourselves.
Further reading:
Hi - I'll be interested to see how this turns out. We're going into an election on the 26th, and one of the issues being discussed over here is similar implementation.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Australia's legislation goes far enough by a long shot (not taxing light vehicles, c'mon! That's most of Australia's fuel emissions!) but it's a start, I suppose.
God help Australia if Tony - the nutjob - Abbott gets in. I've got Liberal friends who are swearing they'll vote for anyone other than him, but we'll see.