The carbon tax

[Jovial Monk]

That isn’t what the CT is about tho, it is about changing the purchasing patterns of people and corporations. Christ, building the bloody NBN is hard enough!

This thread is about the CT to be announced tomorrow.

[Jovial Monk]

http://www.theage.com.au/national/perso ... 1h86d.html

Big lift in tax free thresholds to encourage more people into work.

[Jovial Monk]

Wow, Swan going like an express train talking about the tax reform made possible by the Carbon Tax. Those who said he has no appetite for reform, is just a good economist owe him an apology big time! Not just for this, tho he gave one of his best-ever performances, but for the HUGE cuts to middleclass welfare in this years Budget.

He may not be a show pony like Costello was but just gets shitloads of reform done.

[Jovial Monk]

Hmmm and also WOW!

Target is 80% reduction by 2050! That has to be one of the most ambitious targets announced! I love when our small country takes a leadership role!

[Jovial Monk]

Comment on PB:

Regarding the carbon tax – I was delighted to see Gillard is going to link it to a tax reform package including raising the tax free threshold. This is a desirable reform in its own right, and shows the benefits a carbon tax style reform can bring. also, because it benefits almost everyone – high paid, low paid, even pensioners with small incomes – it is the most equitable solution. It also saves a lot of currently pointless paperwork for students and part time workers. If the Greens and Indies are fair, they should support it. It was an aspect of the Henry Tax review that should never have been parked.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/perso ... 1h86d.html

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/ ... ent-932673

[Jovial Monk]

The PM’s Speech to the Nation will be at 6.25pm with Mr No at 6.30pm—why the TV stations thought this was good timing I dunno. You would think Mr No would want a couple of days to think about his speech, then again he will come up with nothing new.

Abbott/Hockey/Hunt were on ABC TV earlier, same old crap, same old lies, even brought out their “$50Bn in savings” that has been thoroughly discredited before, including by Treasury.

[Jovial Monk]

Tone begins his spiel:
“Margie and I want a better future. . .” doesn’t get more hokey than that!

Details:
http://www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au/

for the pointyheads:
http://cache.treasury.gov.au/treasury/c ... idated.pdf

[Jovial Monk]

Ross Garnaut is quite happy with the carbon tax:

Contrasts markedly with his eventual assessment of the CPRS:

Statement by Ross Garnaut regarding the Climate Change Policy Package released by the Australian Government

“This is a strong climate change policy package. It will allow Australia to do its fair share in an effective global effort to reduce the risks of climate change, and to do so at reasonable cost.

I attach particular importance to the governance arrangements for the emissions trading scheme. The arrangements for adjusting targets, including through the role of the Climate Change Authority, allow appropriate flexibility in response to international developments within a stable and predictable framework. The arrangements for reviewing assistance to trade-exposed industries, including through the role of the Productivity Commission, introduces economic discipline in decisions of large consequence for national economic performance.

The treatment of the land sector will encourage new forms of carbon sequestration that create important opportunities for rural Australia. Here our pioneeering role in measuring and rewarding sequestration in soils, pastures, woodlands and forests is likely to have international influence.

The package has emerged from a policy-making process that allowed consideration of a wide range of issues and advice. I congratulate the Prime Minister and her colleagues in the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee for the sound process and on the good outcome for Australia and the international community.”

Ross Garnaut
10 July 2011

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/thestump/201 ... e-package/

[Jovial Monk]

Grog’s Gamut’s take:

http://grogsgamut.blogspot.com/2011/07/ ... -sure.html

[Jovial Monk]

Personally, don’t think any of this will work without some nice big Gen4 nuclear plants.