Carbon tax

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times 16th July 2011 page 10

Tax raises fear for commuters

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Carbon tax ads to hit TV amid public confusion

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Tax a test of Rudd loyalty

Brisbanetimes --> Proof not in Abbott's 'magic pudding'

Courier Mail --> Outrage as Tony Abbott compares impact of carbon tax to Queensland floods

Herald Sun --> Gina Rinehart slams Julia Gillard's carbon tax

Still a very hot topic nationally ...

[ozbob]

Media release 15 July 2011 re-released 17 July 2011

Australia: Call for public transport to be exempt from Carbon Tax levy

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 that as cars are exempt from the proposed Carbon Tax levy, public transport must be afforded the same concession.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"A Carbon Tax that exempts cars, but not public transport will simply mean increased fares for public transport which will in turn drive people back to cars, with the massive flow on cost impacts of increased congestion, worsening pollution and increased health sector costs from road trauma."

"All State jurisdictions are increasingly becoming concerned with this perverse outcome of the proposed Carbon Tax plan (1)."

"We call on the Federal Government to ammend the Carbon Tax so that public transport is exempt, in the same way that cars are."

Reference:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6359.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

It's war - carbon ad battle hits TV screens

It's war - carbon ad battle hits TV screens
Jessica Wright
July 17, 2011

PRO-CARBON tax television ads to be unleashed on Australia tonight are part of a $25 million taxpayer-funded campaign to win over the public as the Gillard government struggles to explain its message.

The advertisements will cost $12 million but the total bill for the government to explain its climate-change policy will cost more than $25 million, with figures in budget papers showing the government has earmarked an extra $13.7 million for a ''public information'' campaign on the tax.

This would be used to fund websites, leaflets and other publicly available information on the details of the government scheme, a spokesman said.

It is understood the television advertisements feature real Australians who work in large and small organisations and are involved in creating a clean-energy future. People appearing in the ads were not paid or given scripts.

But the government faces competition in the advertising stakes.

The Sun-Herald has learnt the Australian Trade and Industry Alliance will launch a $10 million anti-carbon tax advertising campaign this week, which is backed by the coal industry and the Minerals Council. It is understood a long-time Liberal Party pollster, Mark Textor, is the architect of the testimonial-style ads, which follow a similar print campaign in newspapers last week.

With polling showing the government holds a primary vote of just 27 per cent - the lowest in recorded history - and personal support for the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, also in uncharted territory, Labor has embarked on a fierce campaign in the electorate to sell its carbon tax policy. The Coalition leader, Tony Abbott, has also led his MPs and senators in hitting the streets to oppose the tax.

In an indication of the message Labor will take to the next election, a breakdown of compensation fund figures obtained by The Sun-Herald shows about 90,000 seniors who are single will be better off by $535 over and above cost-of-living rises associated with the carbon tax, about 100,000 pensioners and self-funded retirees will be better off by more than $500 and about 150,000 self-funded retirees and part-rate pensioners will receive extra tax cuts.

Mr Abbott addressed the party faithful at the LNP Queensland state conference yesterday and said the government was treating Australians like ''mugs''.

Repeating his call for the carbon tax issue to go to a referendum, Mr Abbott said ''we should have no tax collection without an election''.

The opposition climate change spokesman, Greg Hunt, said Ms Gillard had hidden the true figures of the cost of the advertising campaign.

''She should not rely on advertising using taxpayers' money to explain her tax,'' he said.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/climate-change/its-war--carbon-ad-battle-hits-tv-screens-20110716-1hizt.html

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Gillard defends carbon tax ad spend

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Gillard down for count

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Gillard steadfast against plunging polls

[ozbob]

Opposition Media release

http://www.scottemerson.com.au/

Flashback - Labor minister attacks carbon tax

While the current Bligh government ministers are unapologetic supporters of Canberra's carbon tax – it's a total turnaround from state Labor's stance only a few years, said Shadow Transport Minister Scott Emerson.

In 2006, former Queensland Labor mines minister – Henry Palaszczuk stood up for Queensland when he said "A carbon tax is a tax on coal".*

Mr Palaszczuk, a 22 year political veteran was a fighter for the Queensland resources industry – unlike the current crop of ALP politicians.

"While the current Labor party is hostage to the Green-dominated Gillard government, old Labor knew full well just what damage a carbon tax would do.  Five years ago, Mr Palaszczuk warned Queensland that 'A carbon tax could cost Queensland billions of dollars'.

"While the Bligh government has failed to join the other states in fighting again the tax – Mr Palaszczuk's prediction that it will make Australian manufacturers less competitive and mean more job losses is set to come true.

"What's changed in Queensland since Mr Palaszczuk spoke out on behalf of the Queensland government?

"Nothing, the Queensland Resource Council is still cautioning about the carbon tax and claiming that thousands of jobs will be lost.

"It's bizarre that this ALP government doesn't have a clue about the impact of the carbon tax on Queensland.

"Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk (Mr Palaszczuk's daughter) told Parliament estimates hearings this week 'we do not know the details of the impact of the carbon price in relation to public transport'.

"It's time that Premier Bligh and her cabinet listened to former party members and the people of Queensland and stopped toadying up to their Canberra mates.

"The CanDo LNP team will oppose the job-destroying carbon tax – and will fight for Queensland families and businesses."

[ozbob]

The Australian Editorial --> PM's campaign is taxing the patience of the public

[ozbob]

Letter to the editor

Published Courier Mail 18th July 2011

A Carbon Tax that exempts cars, but not public transport, will mean increased fares for public transport which will drive people back to cars - a strange outcome for an initiative that is meant to decrease pollution.

Robert Dow
Goodna

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Campbell cornered on carbon?

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Carbon price battle is lost, say experts

Carbon price battle is lost, say experts
Dan Nancarrow
July 20, 2011

Political experts believe the battle to sell the carbon tax to the Australian public has been lost and the Prime Minister can do nothing to change voters' minds on the issue.

A poll by ReachTel has shown a week of public campaigning on the climate change reform by Julia Gillard has failed to sway voter opinion on the tax in the past seven days.

Despite the issue dominating the news cycle for the past week, support for the carbon tax (32.4 per cent) remained 28.6 points behind support against the reform (61 per cent) over the past seven days.

Reader in politics at the University of Queensland Ian Ward said the public had made their minds up on the issue and any effort to sell the tax was "a lost cause".

"This is an issue that voters have made their minds up on and even if a significant chunk of the electorate moved in favour there is still going to be substantial antagonism and opposition to the government and its policy," he said.

"So a government advertising campaign and some explanation in the media, it's really not likely to fundamentally change the government's position in the polls."

Dr Ward said the tax was being used as a fulcrum for wider resentment and anger towards the Labor government over failures to manage past problems such as the asylum seeker issue.

"It's not as if the carbon tax issue has damaged the government, the government was damaged when it took up this issue," he said.

"This is an issue on which opinion is entrenched, it's an issue which is a touchstone for much wider resentment of the Labor government.

"Some advertising about the carbon tax, some explanation that it is not as threatening as its opponents have made it out to be is not going to placate more than a small percentage of the electorate."

Political communication lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology Wayne Murphy said the prime minister had been most effective selling the tax in the past week by providing everyday examples of the tax's effect for audience members on Q&A.

He said if the government could put up another politician, such as former ACTU secretary Greg Combet, to simplify the issue for the public, they may be able to make inroads.

"Generally people don't want to think too much about complex issues, they'd rather try and boil things down into simple terms which is what Tony Abbott has been able to do with his 'great big new tax' line," he said.

"This is an issue where if you do want to understand it, you do need to understand the sorts of detail that people just don't want to know."

The poll also revealed 58.3 per cent of people said they were less likely to vote for the government on the basis on the carbon tax announcement.

Mr Murphy said the government would likely be relying on the opposition to make costly mistakes in the lead-up to the next election to make up ground on the Coalition.

"The best luck the ALP could have is Tony Abbott reverts back to his old form and implode at some stage by making a big gaffe or really contradicting himself," he said.

Dr Ward said the government's only option was to 'tough out' the opposition to the tax.

"When it is passed as an issue I think some of the steam will come out of it and the government will move on to other things," he said.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/carbon-price-battle-is-lost-say-experts-20110719-1hn0l.html#ixzz1Sa8ey0k9

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Labor big-hitters leave Julia Gillard to sell carbon tax

" .... THE Queensland Labor MP with the state's second safest seat has left the country on a taxpayer-funded tour of France as the Federal Government tries to sell its carbon tax.

Oxley MP Bernie Ripoll left for a two-week study of "active transport" including walking and cycling in France only two days after Ms Gillard revealed her plans to fight climate change ... "

No wonder I haven't yet received a reply to my correspondence to the  Federal Member (Oxley) detailing my concerns with not exempting public transport ...

[ozbob]

A Federal government spokesperson was reported on the ABC News this morning as stating 'the purpose of the carbon price is to reduce pollution ...'

Really?  There is no incentive to reduce petrol car use, develop greener cars, or increase public transport. Governments will be punished for increases in public transport but not for increased use of cars which will make pollution worse.  Emissions from coal fired powered stations is less significant than the direct effects of exhausts - petrol, gas and diesel.

Greens and Labor please fix up this flawed carbon tax transport policy!

[ozbob]

Twitter

JuliaGillard
The #carbonprice won't apply to the fuel you put in your car. Here are the facts http://t.co/RYIy2Pn
1 hour ago

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

My response

Robert_Dow

@JuliaGillard "The #carbonprice won't apply to the fuel you put in your car " but it does to public transport! IDIOTIC! http://t.co/38NNhcH
2 minutes ago

[Gazza]

Little bit late now, but you might have gotten a response if you'd left the 'IDIOTIC' off the end.

[#Metro]

Who cares... not like its actually Julia doing the twittering... PT paying the price while CRT is exempt is C-R-A-Z-Y

[ozbob]

It is an idiotic policy, and needs to be said.  Nothing wrong with the word idiotic,  the premise that cars are exempt from a carbon price but public transport is not is idiotic!

On twitter it is necessary to be brief. Idiotic = very stupid, showing complete lack of thought or common sense, foolish.

It is idiotic because it is not in line with the premise of the carbon tax price.

Don't worry, the PM rarely replies to tweets, it ain't the PM most times ... LOL

[#Metro]

What, it's not "real" Julia.. 

[Fares_Fair]

It is an idiotic policy, and needs to be said.  Nothing wrong with the word idiotic,  the premise that cars are exempt from a carbon price but public transport is not is idiotic!

On twitter it is necessary to be brief. Idiotic = very stupid, showing complete lack of thought or common sense, foolish.

It is idiotic because it is not in line with the premise of the carbon tax price.

Don't worry, the PM rarely replies to tweets, it ain't the PM most times ... LOL

While we are on appropriate adjectives, add to that oxymoronic as well !

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

Yes nice word oxymoronic = broad meaning:something (as a concept) that is made up of contradictory or incongruous elements  - that's the carbon price tax ...  

Twitter though, brevity is the go!

[#Metro]

Its not a tax!

When you go to the Supermarket and buy things, is that called a grocery tax?

[justanotheruser]

Yes the pollies who actually twitter themselves and post on facebook themselves do not get the support. They are called no good alternative. While the ones who pay the PR people to do this stuff are the clever ones worthy of our time! So lets keep the message going that we don't want honesty or realness from our politicians!

[ozbob]

Its not a tax!

When you go to the Supermarket and buy things, is that called a grocery tax?

The policy as launched is a tax alright, an indirect one.  Carbon pricing is a generic term for putting a price on carbon, either through a tax, emissions trading and subsidies or combinations there of.  What we have is a carbon tax, with a move to introduce emissions trading planned for down the track.

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Anna Bligh says Kevin Rudd's carbon deal was better for Queensland than Julia Gillard's

Anna Bligh says Kevin Rudd's carbon deal was better for Queensland than Julia Gillard's

Steven Wardill and Steven Scott
   From: The Courier-Mail
   July 22, 2011 12:00AM

QUEENSLAND Premier Anna Bligh has joined a Labor chorus of critics, insisting Kevin Rudd's abandoned Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme offered the state a better deal than Prime Minister Julia Gillard's new carbon tax compensation scheme.

The comments add to headaches for the Prime Minister, already facing difficulty winning support for the controversial tax from the NSW, Victoria and WA governments.

Premier Bligh said the Gillard Government needed to increase compensation for Queensland's power generators or put alternatives on the table.

Ms Bligh heavily criticised Federal Resources Minster Martin Ferguson for claiming Queensland would not get further compensation.

"I just say to Martin Ferguson that if he thinks Queenslanders are just going to sit by while all the compensation goes to his home state of Victoria then he is not listening to Queensland," she said.

The State Government has pushed for an urgent meeting over the carbon tax plan and demanded compensation for the estimated $1.7 billion write-down on value of Queensland's two power generation companies.

The Gillard Government has argued that other state assets would increase in value as a result of the tax.

Ms Bligh's comments expose increasing frustrations within the State Government over the progress of those talks, with the Liberal Nationals gaining traction opposing the tax ahead of the looming state election.

"We are very clear about this, there are parts of this package that are less attractive to Queensland than the previous CPRS," Ms Bligh said.

"We think Queensland needs to get a better deal."

Fewer coal fired power stations will get compensation under the carbon tax than under the CPRS because the funds will be targeted to generators with higher emissions.

Power stations that receive compensation will get more than they would have under the CPRS, but the funds will be spread over five years instead of the 10 years planned under the CPRS.

The Federal Government has not revealed how the compensation will be distributed, but has suggested the vast majority will go to heavy polluting Victorian power stations.

Asked whether then prime minister Kevin Rudd had ensured Queensland got a better deal than the one on offer from his successor, Ms Bligh said: "That is a judgement for others to make."

Ms Bligh said the Federal Government had agreed to talks about its compensation claim for the generators and these would proceed when modelling was completed.

"We are grown up people," she said.

"We are going to sit around the table and look at what options there are to improve this package from Queensland's perspective.

"If the Commonwealth believes that is not the appropriate way to do it then they better put other options on the table."

Former NSW Labor Premier Morris Iemma yesterday warned the carbon tax would drive up costs and make little difference to the environment. Mr Iemma predicted the carbon tax "could change the government."

But Ms Gillard - who was promoting the tax in Ipswich and Brisbane yesterday - said Mr Iemma had "called this one wrong".

Ms Gillard also rejected anti-carbon tax ads funded by a range of business and mining groups, which warned of job losses.

The Prime Minister said there would be 1.6 million extra jobs in Australia by 2020, linked to the carbon tax measures.

Let's make a deal PM!  Deal, price or tax, all looks like a 'duck' to me with respect to public transport ...

Footnote: Duck test - If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Bligh cries foul over carbon tax cash for Victoria

Bligh cries foul over carbon tax cash for Victoria
Michelle Grattan and Tom Arup
July 22, 2011

QUEENSLAND Premier Anna Bligh is demanding the Gillard government give her state a better deal on the carbon tax, saying Queenslanders won't ''sit by'' while Victorian power generators win all the compensation.

As Ms Bligh stepped up the pressure, Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu was on the attack, claiming the carbon plan would cost the state's hospitals about $13.5 million a year in extra energy bills, rising to more than $20 million by 2020.

Queensland is angry that its state-owned, coal-fired generators will not get any of the $5.5 billion cash payments and free permits on offer for the electricity sector, with analysts tipping that Victoria's high-polluting brown coal generators will snare about 97 per cent of the compensation.

Ms Bligh, who is also the national ALP president, lashed out at Resources Minister Martin Ferguson for indicating Queensland would not get any further compensation. ''I'd just say to Martin Ferguson that if he thinks Queenslanders are going to sit by while all the compensation goes to his home state of Victoria, then he's not listening to Queensland,'' she said.

The government's $5.5 billion for transitional assistance is aimed at the most emissions-intensive generators. Most electricity in Victoria is produced by burning brown coal, which produces more emissions than black coal, used in other states including Queensland. Ms Bligh, who has sought a meeting with Prime Minister Julia Gillard, said: ''I'm very determined to see Queensland get a better deal out of the current package''.

Former New South Wales premier Morris Iemma has also criticised the federal government's carbon tax plan, saying it ''won't change the world, but it could change the government''.

Visiting the Monash Medical Centre with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott yesterday, Mr Baillieu said hospitals would not be fully compensated under the carbon tax package ''and that leaves Victorians again with a problem''.

Mr Abbott said that on the basis of Victorian modelling, the cost of the Victorian public hospital system would rise by $140 million up to 2020 due to escalating power costs. Hospitals around Australia would pay about $100 million a year more under the carbon tax.

''It'll come out of the pockets of patients , it'll come out of the pockets of the state governments, it'll mean an impact on private health insurance fees,'' he said.

But Julia Gillard said no one should believe Mr Abbott's claims. ''Mr Abbott seems to have forgotten that we index payments to hospitals. Maybe there's a reason he's forgotten - when he was health minister he actually cut that indexation as a way of getting a billion dollars out of the public hospital system.''

Australian Medical Association Victoria president Harry Hemley said Victoria's stretched public hospitals could not foot the rising energy bills from a carbon price, and that the state or federal government would have to meet the extra cost.

But the Climate and Health Alliance, representing 20 health groups, backed the carbon price, saying the effects of climate change would outstrip its impact on the hospital system. Spokeswoman Fiona Armstrong cited Victorian Health Department figures showing that a record-breaking heatwave in January 2009 led to an eight-fold increase in people with heat stress needing emergency care, while the death rate jumped by 62 per cent.

''The carbon pricing package ... represents an important first step in developing a responsible climate policy for Australia, and is itself an important health measure,'' she said.

Meanwhile, a coalition of industry lobby groups - known as the Australian Trade and Industry Alliance - yesterday launched a nationwide advertising campaign against the carbon tax. Its campaign says the carbon tax ''disadvantages Australian businesses, raises the cost of living for consumers and ultimately won't make any difference to global carbon emissions''.

The alliance's members include the Minerals Council of Australia, the Australian Coal Association and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

With ADAM MORTON

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/bligh-cries-foul-over-carbon-tax-cash-for-victoria-20110721-1hr2h.html

[ozbob]

From Transport and Logistics News click here!

Carbon price should apply equally across transport sector: ALC

Carbon price should apply equally across transport sector: ALC

The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) is encouraging the Federal Government to redesign its carbon price package before it goes to parliament to ensure transport is treated equally under the tax.

In a letter to the Prime Minister and other key parliamentary stakeholders, ALC chief executive officer Michael Kilgariff has called on the government to ensure its carbon price policy does not discriminate between the road, rail, maritime and aviation sectors.

"ALC supports the decision to exempt heavy vehicles from a carbon price until 2014, however, we believe this measure should be applied consistently across the transport modes to ensure an equal playing field in the freight transport sector," Mr Kilgariff said.

"As it currently stands, the rail, aviation and maritime sectors will be paying an effective carbon price from 1 July 2012 through changes to their fuel tax credits and excise arrangements.

"This is two years before heavy vehicles will be required to pay an equivalent price, and that is assuming a future parliament actually approves measures to reduce the fuel tax credit heavy vehicles can receive.

"To ensure the government's intended sole taxation mechanism to price carbon works fairly on day one, ALC is calling on the government to ensure competitive neutrality between transport modes under a carbon price, by eliminating this two-year inconsistency that has the potential to distort consumer choice as to the mode of transport used to freight goods", he said.

Mr Kilgariff said the introduction of a carbon price with inconsistent start up dates across the industry may have the unintended consequence of actually disadvantaging the forms of transport that could potentially offer the greatest savings of greenhouse gas emissions.

"Treating energy efficient transport modes such as rail differently to heavy vehicles is in effect contrary to the carbon price's primary objective to reduce Australia's overall carbon emissions."

Mr Kilgariff said this point was echoed on ABC's Lateline Business this week by Paul Little, managing director of Toll, one of Australia's major logistics companies. Quote from the program:

TICKY FULLERTON: "From a national point of view, I see that rail and sea are actually disadvantaged over road for the first couple of years anyway. That would seem very ironic given that road is the high emitter?"

PAUL LITTLE: "Well, air and road are both very high emitters. We would certainly like to have seen the government also create a two-year window where both rail and sea were also going to receive the benefit of not incurring the tax. Inadvertently, it's going to disadvantage that form of transport and that mode of transport that can offer the greatest savings in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. So, I believe it may not have been an intended outcome, but it's one we believe is not going to give the best outcome."

"The freight transport and logistics industry stands ready to make a positive contribution towards transitioning Australia to a low carbon future, but our efforts should be accompanied by policies that ensure competitive neutrality across the transport modes", said Mr Kilgariff.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

PM Julia Gillard rejects Anna Bligh's hopes for $1.7 billion in coal compo

PM Julia Gillard rejects Anna Bligh's hopes for $1.7 billion in coal compo

    Steven Scott and John McCarthy
    From: The Courier-Mail
    July 26, 2011 12:00AM

JULIA Gillard has rejected pleas from Premier Anna Bligh for extra compensation for state-owned power stations that will be hit by the carbon tax.

The Prime Minister said Ms Bligh had not taken into account how much the state's green energy power assets would increase in value when the state sought $1.7 billion for expected losses to its coal-fired generators.

Ms Gillard said the state was welcome to propose minor changes to details in the carbon tax legislation, but ruled out any major overhaul to compensation.

"The package we announced is the package we'll deliver," Ms Gillard said. She said the Queensland Government would gain a windfall from "the asset appreciation that their clean energy generation assets will experience as a result of our package to put a price on carbon pollution."

"I don't see the Queensland Government volunteering to send that asset appreciation back to the Federal Government and nor would I expect them to," she said.

Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser's spokesman said the state was still assessing the impact of the tax on renewable energy.

Ms Gillard also rejected reports that she had proposed a climate change policy that did not include a carbon tax or emissions trading scheme before she became prime minister in a bid to secure a bipartisan deal with Tony Abbott.

The comments came as industry warned of billion-dollar losses to the Queensland Government, farms and businesses from a carbon tax but admitted that it would not kill economic growth in the state.

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche told a Senate inquiry in Brisbane that the premature closure of mines and the scrapping of planned coal mines would mean $1 billion loss in royalties for the State Government by 2020.

"I don't understand why our State Government is not highlighting this impact on the state's finances," Mr Roche said.

There would be further losses to the State Government because the electricity generators, which face the biggest cost impact, were unlikely to ever pay another dividend to the Government, Mr Roche said.

The industry would lose another $100 million a year through changes in the fuel excise while some mines face a tax of $50 a tonne, compared with the $2 a tonne average.

Under questioning from Labor's Senator Doug Cameron, Mr Roche said there would still be growth in the Queensland coal industry but it would also be handing over some of its growth to overseas competitors.

The claims came as a Newspoll suggested a small lift in support for the carbon tax among voters from 30 per cent to 36 per cent.

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Premier Anna Bligh to thrash out carbon tax compo deal

Premier Anna Bligh to thrash out carbon tax compo deal

   From: AAP
   July 26, 2011 4:32PM

PREMIER Anna Bligh says the federal government may not fully understand why Queensland needs a better carbon tax compensation deal.

Ms Bligh said she was still determined to thrash out a better agreement for Queensland after the prime minister indicated her refusal to budge on the issue.

The Bligh government has estimated the asset value of state-owned generators was likely to decrease by around $1.7 billion under the carbon tax.

But Prime Minister Julia Gillard ruled out any major changes to compensation, indicating she'll only look at minor changes to legislation.

She said Queensland would win out from the asset appreciation of clean energy generation assets once a price was put on carbon pollution.

"The package we announced is the package we'll deliver,'' she told The Courier-Mail.

But Ms Bligh said the government would gain no windfall from the increase in the value of renewable generation.

"I think it would be helpful for the Commonwealth to understand that states like Queensland and NSW have an infinitesimal ownership of renewable electricity," she told reporters on Tuesday.

"While we've put very significant investment into it, it is largely owned in the private sector.

"... It may be that the Commonwealth doesn't fully understand that."

Ms Bligh said Queensland would sit down with the Commonwealth and explain its case.

Asked if Ms Gillard had it wrong, she said the issue involved "complex material''.

"Every state has to be looked at differently," the premier said.

"I don't believe one size meets all."

Queensland Treasury is still modelling the impacts of the tax on the state.

Last week, Ms Bligh said Victoria was getting a better deal than Queensland and that Queensland had been better off under former prime minister Kevin Rudd's carbon reduction scheme.

[ozbob]

Media release 29 July 2011

Australia: Carbon price policy still off the rails

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 strongly supported the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) in their call for 'Two thirds of the transport budget should be spent on public and active transport and one third should be spent on roads' (1). The carbon price policy recently put forward by the Federal Government actually penalises rail and public transport and favours more transport pollution by cars and trucks.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Australia blunders on with worsening road congestion and road trauma, and public transport poor utilisation and development. In the face of looming oil price rise crises and failing road non-solutions the authorities continue to ignore reality and waste yet more scarce funds and further exacerbate environmental damage and cause massive cost impacts by encouraging more cars and trucks on already congested and damaged roads (2)."

"Time is running out.  The ACF is correct in their call for the funding imbalance to roads be corrected with the majority of funding directed to sustainable transport solutions."

"A carbon price policy that exempts cars, but not public transport will simply mean increased fares for public transport which will in turn drive people back to cars, with the massive flow on cost impacts of increased congestion, worsening pollution and increased health sector costs from road trauma (3). The fact that this is embedded in the carbon price policy means that the policy will actually increase pollution rather than reduce it. This stamps the carbon price policy as stupid!"

"All State jurisdictions are increasingly becoming concerned with this perverse outcome of the proposed carbon price policy."

"We call on the Federal Government to ammend the carbon price policy so that public transport is exempt, in the same way that cars are, and rail is treated equitably with road transport."

References:

1. Australia's public transport a poor cousin to roads http://www.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=3378

2. Australia faces looming fuel shortages http://www.aspo-australia.org.au/References/Aleklett/News-release-v4-JG.doc

3. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6359.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Voters will have less than a month to respond to carbon tax legislation, as government sends out brochure to every home

[ozbob]

Clean Energy Legislative Package

--> http://www.climatechange.gov.au/en/government/submissions/clean-energy-legislative-package.aspx

Engagement process

The submission period is open from Thursday, 28 July – Monday, 22 August 2011. Submissions are invited from all interested stakeholders.

[ozbob]

All relevant RAIL Back On Track Media releases have been formerly submitted as directed by http://www.climatechange.gov.au/en/government/submissions/clean-energy-legislative-package.aspx



Acknowledgement of receipt received.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Carbon tax adds $35 to council waste disposal and rubbish dump charges

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Tax model 'too slow'

Tax model 'too slow'
August 7, 2011

OPPOSITION deputy leader Tim Nicholls has criticised the Queensland government for needing until mid- to late August to deliver carbon tax modelling.

The LNP treasury spokesman said NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell released his state's carbon tax modelling last Thursday yet Queenslanders have to wait at least another fortnight for their figures.

Mr Nicholls said businesses and families were eagerly awaiting the outcome and envisaged State Treasurer Andrew Fraser needed the figures to properly lobby the federal government for concessions or compensation.

''The NSW government had their documents online by Thursday afternoon, two weeks ahead of this government,'' Mr Nicholls said.

''We've had one prediction so far that there will be a write-down of power generators of $1.7 billion.

''Why is it taking so long to get its report done when a state like NSW, [which] has many more impacts because of its population size and its other activities, can get it done in four weeks.''

AAP

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/climate-change/tax-model-too-slow-20110806-1igyv.html

[ozbob]

Typical incompetence ...

Brisbanetimes --> Cloud over CSG emissions

The Queensland government has not carried out its own analysis of the greenhouse gas emissions produced by coal seam gas, despite claiming the fuel is significantly less polluting than coal, internal briefing papers reveal ...

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/cloud-over-csg-emissions-20110818-1izx1.html

[ozbob]

From Perth Now click here!

Carbon tax will cost WA families $144

Carbon tax will cost WA families $144

    Joe Spagnolo and Ashlee Mullany
    From: PerthNow
    August 21, 2011 2:43PM

WA families will pay $144 extra a year for electricity, water and transport under the Federal Government's Carbon Tax, a new State Treasury report has revealed.

The report directly contradicts the Prime Minister's claims that two out of three households will receive enough compensation through tax cuts and family assistance to cover the expected $9.90 a week jump in the cost of living.

As revealed in The Sunday Times today, the report states more than half of WA households will be worse off under Julia Gillard's carbon tax.

It predicts 419,000 WA households or 52 per cent will be worse off under the tax, despite Ms Gillard's sweeteners.

Treasurer Christian Porter said the average household should expect to pay an extra $111 in electricity charges, $19.50 in public transport fares and $13.25 in water charges in the first year of the tax.

The new charges will come on top of the State Government's 57 per cent increases in electricity and 47 per cent increases in water over the last three years.

Mr Porter said the Federal Government's Carbon Tax Policy was penalising WA for the fact that many households earned more than the average Australian salary - $1454 a week in WA - compared with $1289 nationally.

He accused Ms Gillard of lying to the people of Western Australia by promising that two out of three households would be adequately compensated for the carbon tax.

"A family with a mum and dad earning a combined income of $120,000 with two kids could be up to $389 a year worse off under the carbon tax plan and that's from the commonwealth's own modelling," Mr Porter said.

"Once again WA is being penalised for our success. It is economic vandalism to further penalise the very state that is steering Australia clear of the global financial crisis and ensuring our people have jobs and security when countries are struggling."

The Report, called Impact of the Proposed Carbon Tax on Western Australia, found the Commonwealth's proposed carbon tax would have "a limited effect in reducing both global and domestic emissions."

The Treasurer said the Labor Government's carbon reduction estimates were "particularly offensive" and claimed the tax wouldn't make a two per cent dent in Australia's carbon emissions until 2050.

"It will take 38 years before we see even a 2 per cent reduction in the greenhouse gases Australia emits," Mr Porter said.

"That equates to just 0.03 per cent of the world's carbon emissions - blink and you might miss it."

Ms Gillard has consistently said that tax cuts and increases in welfare and family benefits would deliver an average compensation of $10.10 a week.

She has made no secret of the fact that the aid, designed to offset a $23 a tonne carbon tax on the nation's 500 biggest polluters is designed to help the nation's low-to-middle income families.

Households with a combined income of more than $120,000 are big losers because they won't qualify for many of the sweeteners, and today's report shows that 242,000 households in WA fall into that category.

The report, which Mr Porter explains was prepared by "Treasury officials who provided an unamended report to government" also estimates that in WA 95,000 single-person households, 187,000 seniors households, 112,000 households comprising couples with one or more dependents and 25,000 one parent households will also be worse off.

State opposition spokeswoman Michelle Roberts said Mr Porter's comments were nothing but ``political scare-mongering."

"It's just speculation about the carbon tax and it's all hypothetical,'' Ms Roberts said.

"I think people know what's gone on in Western Australia in the last three years - I think they've looked at their gas, water and electricity bills and they know that Colin Barnett does not give a jot about their household charges. This is nothing more than anti-Canberra politicking."

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Carbon tax no calamity for Queensland, says report

==========

A carbon tax that impacts public transport but allows cars off scott free is stupid in the extreme ... separate reporting on radio suggests the Queensland report carbon tax will cost public transport $5 million dollars per annum.  And that will only increase.

Why do I keep seeing visions of roofing insulation bursting into flames?

[ozbob]

Letter to the editor

Published Courier Mail 18th July 2011

A Carbon Tax that exempts cars, but not public transport, will mean increased fares for public transport which will drive people back to cars - a strange outcome for an initiative that is meant to decrease pollution.

Robert Dow
Goodna

:conf