Antinuclear

The carbon tax that would begin next year would affect just the coal industry. In a last minute compromise, petrol was not included. The tax will raise billions for investment in clean energy to switch the nation from a carbon based economy to a sustainable one based on renewable energy. Assuming that the coal industry passes on their costs of paying for carbon dioxide emitted, this would increase costs 0.7% for individual households.Beginning with a fixed carbon price of $23 from July 1 next year, the tax would move to an EU-style Emissions Trading Scheme by the middle of 2015, at which point, the market would set the carbon price. As former PM Kevin Rudd’s deputy, Gillard had opposed beginning an ETS until there was bipartisan support, which is almost impossible in a nation with such a powerful coal industry. Building it in now, but delaying the start for four years, is unpopular both with those who see no reason to delay it, and with those who want it – never

The opposition leader, Tony Abbott, head of Australia’s right-wing Liberal Party speaks for the polluter community, which lobbied hard to be paid to reduce pollution instead.Over the weekend meeting, the centrist Independent Party aligned with those to its left, her own Labour Party and the Green Party, in support of the measure, despite concerted and successful astroturfing against climate legislation over the last few years, rivaling that by media and front groups controlled by the fossil industry in the US.To compensate households for this estimated cost increase, the carbon tax would be offset with $15 billion in household tax cuts for Australia’s 8.8 million households. About half of Australian households (4 million) would have a net reduction in energy costs, and another 4 million would come out even or slightly better. The remaining 700,000 households, Australia’s top earners, would not be compensated for the slight increase in their energy costs……

The individual risks to those who bucked Australia’s huge coal industry are great, but borne with equanimity.”It’s not about me being re-elected, or who’s going to be the prime minister,” one Independent MP, Tony Windsor, told the BBC. “This is about the history of people, most of whom haven’t even been born yet. And if I’m sacked from politics because of that, well, I’ll remove myself with a smile on my face.”