10 Jul 2011: Australia: Carbon tax policy has a major flaw

[ozbob]

Media release 10 July 2011

Australia: Carbon tax policy has a major flaw

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said the failure to treat all transport modes equally with the introduction of the carbon tax penalises the sustainable transport mode namely rail, and suggests that the Carbon Tax is just desperate politics rather than decent policy.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The carbon tax penalises rail but promotes road transport.  This will lead to further out of control congestion, massive damage to roads, escalating health costs as road trauma increases, and does nothing to lower the carbon foot print of the transport sector."

"Of real concern is how such a flawed decision can be part of a well planned, well considered policy.  It suggests that the rest of the Carbon Tax Policy may well be suspect."

"We support the Australasian Railway Assocation's call to rethink the transport implications of the carbon tax (1).  The plan with respect to transport as presented today is perverse, illogical, and anti-environment."

Reference:

1. http://www.ara.net.au/UserFiles/file/Media%20Releases/Carbon%20Tax%20Punishes%20Emissions%20friendly%20Rail.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6307.0

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:  Letter to the Editor

11 July 2011

Carbon tax plan a major failure on transport

The failure to treat all transport modes equally with the introduction of the carbon tax penalises the sustainable land transport mode namely rail, and suggests that the Carbon Tax is just desperate politics rather than decent policy.

The carbon tax plan as presented penalises rail but promotes road transport.  This will lead to further out of control congestion, massive damage to roads, more escalating health costs as road trauma increases, and does nothing to lower the carbon foot print of the transport sector. A policy that promotes car use but penalises public and active transport is idiotic.

Of real concern is how such a flawed decision can be part of a well planned, well considered policy.  It suggests that the rest of the Carbon Tax Policy may well be suspect.

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Feedback received, thanks.

The basic concepts are as advised by an economist, Most of the TV images of smoking chimneys are cooling towers belching out steam. A cooling tower condenses steam for recycling in an industrial process, viz. turbine water reducing the, generally, generator's need to get more than 30 - 50% of its water from the local water supply. A pollution tax would be a sensible option without any recourse to carbon trading. There are so many exceptions that most of the concept becomes a job creation scheme for bureaucrats. I am only a scientist with some professional knowledge of atmospheric and oceanic processes. By far the biggest threat to the Reef is overfertilization within the sugar growers, and locally, suburban gardeners. Letting car drivers off but penalising trains, as you point out, would appear to be entirely voter driven, it is certainly not scientific. Even supporting a change from internal combustion to diesel engines in private cars would represent a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. The whole process appears to be black and white with no grey.

[Fares_Fair]

I have always doubted the issue and said it is really all about new taxes, under the guise of carbon emission reductions for the environment.

The government response in all of this seems clearly to confirm just that,
a merry go round of money where somehow a min. of 50% of people will be financially better off.

Is this money not better put into Infrastructure ?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

Media release 10 July 2011 re-released 11 October 2011

Australia: Carbon tax policy has a major flaw

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said the failure to treat all transport modes equally with the introduction of the carbon tax penalises the sustainable transport mode namely rail, and suggests that the Carbon Tax is just desperate politics rather than decent policy.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The carbon tax penalises rail but promotes road transport.  This will lead to further out of control congestion, massive damage to roads, escalating health costs as road trauma increases, and does nothing to lower the carbon foot print of the transport sector."

"Of real concern is how such a flawed decision can be part of a well planned, well considered policy.  It suggests that the rest of the Carbon Tax Policy may well be suspect."

"We support the Australasian Railway Association's call to rethink the transport implications of the carbon tax (1).  The plan with respect to transport as presented today is perverse, illogical, and anti-environment."

Reference:

1. http://www.ara.net.au/UserFiles/file/Media%20Releases/Carbon%20Tax%20Punishes%20Emissions%20friendly%20Rail.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail --> here!

Queensland Rail among several state-owned corporations warning of annual energy cost rises from carbon tax

Queensland Rail among several state-owned corporations warning of annual energy cost rises from carbon tax

   by: Steven Scott
   From: The Courier-Mail
   October 12, 2011 12:00AM

COMMUTERS could see higher annual price rises to train tickets after Queensland Rail warned the carbon tax was likely to push up its costs by more than $5 million a year.

Queensland Rail is among several state-owned corporations to warn of annual energy cost rises from the carbon tax, documents obtained by The Courier-Mail under Right to Information laws reveal.

The warnings came as the Gillard Government's package of carbon tax bills is set to pass the House of Representatives today.

State-owned power generators CS Energy, Stanwell Power and Tarong Energy have already posted combined losses of nearly $1.1 billion as a result of a write-down to their value from the carbon tax.

But Queensland Treasury documents reveal a wider range of state-owned corporations, including Queensland Rail, Sunwater and ports around the state, have warned of impending cost rises.

Queensland Rail told the state Treasury its costs are likely to rise by more than $5 million a year over the next three years, mostly driven by a more than 10 per cent expected annual hike to energy prices.

Gladstone Ports Corporation said costs would rise about $2.4 million next year.

Federal Parliament sat late last night to squeeze in nearly 40 hours of debate on the carbon tax Bills. Labor has enough support to pass the changes through parliament.

The Government yesterday won backing for its $300 million compensation package for steelmakers after the Greens dropped their objections.

Julia Gillard told the Labor caucus yesterday that voters would start to support the carbon tax when it was enacted.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

12th October 2011

Re: Australia: Carbon tax policy has a major flaw

Greetings,

The carbon price policy / tax / levy whatever is an electoral poison pill in its present form.  The fact that public transport and rail is disadvantaged with respect to cars and trucks is just a recipe for disaster.

It is simply unbelievable that the Greens and Labor can be so utterly stupid.  Electoral ruin awaits.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

==================================

From the Couriermail --> here!

Queensland Rail among several state-owned corporations warning of annual energy cost rises from carbon tax

Queensland Rail among several state-owned corporations warning of annual energy cost rises from carbon tax

   by: Steven Scott
   From: The Courier-Mail
   October 12, 2011 12:00AM

COMMUTERS could see higher annual price rises to train tickets after Queensland Rail warned the carbon tax was likely to push up its costs by more than $5 million a year.

Queensland Rail is among several state-owned corporations to warn of annual energy cost rises from the carbon tax, documents obtained by The Courier-Mail under Right to Information laws reveal.

The warnings came as the Gillard Government's package of carbon tax bills is set to pass the House of Representatives today.

State-owned power generators CS Energy, Stanwell Power and Tarong Energy have already posted combined losses of nearly $1.1 billion as a result of a write-down to their value from the carbon tax.

But Queensland Treasury documents reveal a wider range of state-owned corporations, including Queensland Rail, Sunwater and ports around the state, have warned of impending cost rises.

Queensland Rail told the state Treasury its costs are likely to rise by more than $5 million a year over the next three years, mostly driven by a more than 10 per cent expected annual hike to energy prices.

Gladstone Ports Corporation said costs would rise about $2.4 million next year.

Federal Parliament sat late last night to squeeze in nearly 40 hours of debate on the carbon tax Bills. Labor has enough support to pass the changes through parliament.

The Government yesterday won backing for its $300 million compensation package for steelmakers after the Greens dropped their objections.

Julia Gillard told the Labor caucus yesterday that voters would start to support the carbon tax when it was enacted.

On 11/10/2011 7:35 AM, RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:
Media release 10 July 2011 re-released 11 October 2011

Australia: Carbon tax policy has a major flaw

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said the failure to treat all transport modes equally with the introduction of the carbon tax penalises the sustainable transport mode namely rail, and suggests that the Carbon Tax is just desperate politics rather than decent policy.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The carbon tax penalises rail but promotes road transport.  This will lead to further out of control congestion, massive damage to roads, escalating health costs as road trauma increases, and does nothing to lower the carbon foot print of the transport sector."

"Of real concern is how such a flawed decision can be part of a well planned, well considered policy.  It suggests that the rest of the Carbon Tax Policy may well be suspect."

"We support the Australasian Railway Association's call to rethink the transport implications of the carbon tax (1).  The plan with respect to transport as presented today is perverse, illogical, and anti-environment."

Reference:

1. http://www.ara.net.au/UserFiles/file/Media%20Releases/Carbon%20Tax%20Punishes%20Emissions%20friendly%20Rail.pdf

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Carbon tax discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6307.msg70836#msg70836

[ozbob]

Hopefully I've offended by both pro- and anti- Carbon Tax people with this video.