Big polluters to dodge carbon tax

Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Only around 500 of Australia's pollution-emitting companies will pay the carbon tax, despite repeated statements by the Government that the "1,000 biggest polluters" will pay.

The decision to exclude fuel for private motorists and small businesses from the scheme means petrol refineries and distributors are out, while firms emitting synthetic greenhouse gases, such as the refrigeration and air-conditioning industries and those that make fire extinguishers, will also be excluded under a special arrangement.

The 500 largest polluting companies who will pay the tax include coal-fired electricity generators, mining companies, and steel and aluminium manufacturers.

Meanwhile Fairfax newspapers are reporting the starting price for carbon pollution will be $23 a tonne - a compromise between the Government's preferred price of $20 and that of the Greens, who wanted a far higher price to encourage investment in renewable energy.




Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/07/07/3263322.htm

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Once again, the Gillard Government has wimped out, and we are left to ponder just what Julia Gillard really believes.

If only she would think things through, announce a policy and stick to it, the Australian people might have some respect for her. But as it is, she is sinking fast and leaving a void that will be filled by the superficial Tony Abbott, a man who has no policies and no beliefs, but who is able to shout louder than Gillard.

This country is doomed.

That's probably why Gillard hasn't been brave enough to take really meaningful action, but she might do better with
the centre and the left if she just had a little more courage.

to an outsider, it seems rather dull and lifeless

No, they're not a caretaker government, but as neither major party got a decisive victory in the last election, Gillard holds power only with the support of a few Independents and one Green. Should any one of them defect to the Coalition, the government would fall.

It's interesting in that she's been forced to introduce legislation (such as action on climate change) that she would never have done off her own bat, but at the same time she's trying to appease the conservatives, because she's so nervous about losing power.

Trying to keep everybody happy seldom bears good results.

regular folks and small business was exempted from the carbon tax.

We can only imagine the holy hell that any proposed 20 cent gas tax to fight global warming would raise in the US. Our politicians would be falling all over themselves to avoid touching that kind of "third rail" - republicans because it is a dreaded TAX (and designated to fight climate change which any good repub knows doesn't really exist) and Democrats because it would raise the price of gas for the working class.

You must have a higher standard for your political leaders in Australia if you expect them to push through a carbon tax like this. I wish you better luck on this than we are ever likely to have in the US. :)