One of the most evident changes of sentiment in the community at the moment is the move against the Rudd Government’s proposed ETS.
It appears the Australian public are quickly going off the idea of Mr Rudd’s Employment Termination Scheme or Extra Tax System, as that’s about all it will deliver for Australia.
In the latest Australian Newspoll those who either outright oppose or want the ETS delayed until after Copenhagen has risen to 53%, up from 33% of people polled last September.
All politicians should take note of this change in sentiment. Clearly it makes no sense to put up the price of goods in the shopping trolley and increase the price other expenses in the household just as it makes no sense to put people’s jobs under threat in a gesture that will have absolutely no affect by itself on the temperature of the globe.
Not one scientist of any credibility or even the most well informed and ardent promoter of the global warming debate can support the argument that Australia’s Emissions Trading Scheme will do anything by itself to change the global climate.
Mr Rudd’s fig leaf excuse that Australia can somehow be a world leader does not seem to be evident in any other facets of politics as far as Australia is concerned.
When I asked today in the Senate Economic Committee meeting about how Australia would be perceived on the world stage if it were to singularly lead in the removal of the bank guarantee, the response from APRA was that such a move would be extremely dangerous. Money would flow away from Australia’s solo decision.
One might very well suggest that wiser heads may say the same thing about us endeavouring introduce a new tax overhead supposedly designed to improve the temperature of the globe while the rest of the world sits back and watches.
The current ETS will be a bonanza for brokers, bankers and bureaucrats but will be paid for by the loss of jobs in regional areas, in the coal industry, the loss of production in the agricultural industry and will place immense pressure the working family’s basket of goods at the checkout.
MEDIA INQUIRIES
David Allender
07 4625 1500
0428 196 340