Carbon tax

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Gillard's biggest gamble

Melbourne Age --> Pollution tax won't cut emissions: Abbott

[ozbob]

I sent this email to my local Federal Member for Oxley Bernie Ripoll

10th July 2011

Dear Bernie,

As a constituent I wish to express my disgust with the Carbon tax announced today by the Prime Minister. To penalise rail is stupid, counter-productive and will do little to actually garner benefits.

Extremly disappointed with this. Below media from ARA.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Goodna Qld

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

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

Sunday 10 July 2011

CARBON TAX PUNISHES EMISSIONS-FRIENDLY RAIL

According to the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), the carbon tax, released today at
Parliament House will have a perverse effect on rail transport, essentially punishing
environmentally friendly rail and rewarding heavy vehicles.

While freight and passenger rail will be exposed to additional costs on diesel fuel and
electricity prices, the exemption of heavy vehicles to 2014/15 and the blanket exemption on
petrol will give the more emissions intensive road sector a huge leg up.

The ARA supports initiatives to reduce global carbon emissions and believes transport has a
significant role to play. Transport is the third highest source of CO2 emissions in Australia
and currently accounts for more than 40% of households' total energy use,
Mr Bryan Nye, ARA CEO, said the ARA has been a strong advocate for including the entire
transport sector in the carbon price. The exclusion of heavy vehicles from a carbon tax until
2014/15 is very disappointing.

"Rail supports action on climate change. However, under this scheme, rail, which is
considerably less emissions intensive, will have to grapple with significant increases in its
costs, while the more polluting road vehicles are exempt," said Mr Nye.

"This carbon tax will essentially make public transport more expensive compared to private
road vehicles. I can't see how this is meant to reduce emissions, it is ludicrous."
The carbon price will cost the rail industry in excess of $100 million dollars for energy costs
alone.

"The rail industry was willing to pay this impost if it was fairly applied across the transport
sector. Unlike heavy road vehicles, we will see no exemptions for our industry despite being
3-4 times less emissions intensive," said Mr Nye.

"Heavy vehicles have received a free pollution pass for the next two years. But in two years
time they will be charged for the pollution they cause so I would encourage those using
freight transport to consider this when making their long-term transporting decisions and
initiate a move to rail."

The lack of investment earmarked for sustainable transport options is another concerning
element of the carbon price package. A carbon price that does not provide low emissions
transport options will simply increase the cost of transport without reducing emissions.
"We recently conducted a comprehensive survey on public transport. Out of 1510
participants surveyed, 72% believed that some of the carbon tax revenues should be used
for sustainable transport infrastructure such as public transport. It is strange that the carbon
price announcement provides little in the way of low-carbon transport options. We urge that
funds set aside for clean technologies be extended to the transport sector," said Mr Nye.
As a service provider to trade exposed industries, we support measures that minimise
adverse outcomes to our international competitiveness. Whether these are adequate will be
for those industries to determine.

"At the end of the day, the rail industry wants to see action on climate change. What we
object to is how the carbon price will operate within the transport sector. It is currently
penalising the low-carbon transport options.

"It's not too late to rectify some of these issues. I urge all parties to rethink the application of
the carbon price on the transport sector to ensure a level playing field. As a priority, heavy
vehicles must be included from the beginning of the scheme," concluded Mr Nye.

-ENDS

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

A clean start

A clean start
Lenore Taylor
July 11, 2011

JULIA GILLARD is fighting to regain public approval with a cautious carbon tax package and promises of tax cuts and higher family payments to ensure 6 million Australian households will be better off or fully compensated for its costs.

But another 2.7 million households earning as little as $65,000 will be out of pocket as 500 businesses paying the $23 a tonne tax pass on the cost.

With the parliamentary votes already lined up, the Prime Minister was claiming success yesterday in achieving the controversial economic reform that helped bring down her predecessor.

''The carbon pollution reduction scheme ran into a brick wall. I've knocked that wall down. This is going through - full stop,'' she said. ''Now is the time to move from words to deeds.''

But the Coalition leader, Tony Abbott, promised to fight the unpopular policy in the arena of public opinion, saying it ''sets up the next election to be a referendum on the carbon tax''. He again pledged an unspecified income tax cut without the pain of a carbon tax and promised to vote against the entire package - even the compensation for industry.

While Labor was emphasising its cautious approach, the Greens said the policy meant Australia had become a world leader.

The tax will rise by 5 per cent a year until 2015, when it becomes an emissions trading scheme with a greenhouse gas reduction target of at least 5 per cent.

The Greens leader, Bob Brown, predicted that target would become tougher after an inbuilt process of review, and hailed the increase in the 2050 emissions reduction target from 60 per cent to 80 per cent.

Compensation for the carbon tax, which will lift prices by 0.7 per cent or about $9.90 a week for the average family, will be delivered with two tax cuts for workers earning up to $80,000 a year. The first, worth about $300, will coincide with the introduction of the tax on July 1 next year. Family payments and pensions will also rise by 1.7 per cent.

Trade-exposed industries will get $9.2 billion over three years - 40 per cent of the total tax revenue - in free permits and grants to increase their energy efficiency. The highest emitting industries, such as cement and aluminium, will get 95 per cent free permits, as they were to under the Rudd government's scheme. Manufacturers such as steel makers will get extra assistance.

Business groups including the Australian Industry Group, which represents manufacturers, expressed concern about the potential impact of the tax but the two big steel makers, BlueScope and OneSteel said the package was sensible and pragmatic.

As Mr Abbott prepared to take his anti-tax campaign to manufacturing regions struggling with the high dollar, Ms Gillard warned against blaming the carbon tax for other problems, saying it was ''not the only wind of change in our economy''.

The government is spending $4.3 billion more than the tax will raise over its first four years, clawing back some of the overrun with cuts to diesel fuel rebates and aviation excise. Other savings will be detailed in midyear economic forecasts.

Fuel excise cuts for heavy trucks are one of three items not certain to be passed. The independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor oppose them. The Greens are still deciding whether to support coal and steel compensation but the government says this could be delivered without parliamentary approval through a grants program.

The Coalition is attacking the tax for allowing Australian companies to buy pollution permits overseas, rather than reducing their emissions. Treasury modelling predicts that of the 160 million tonnes of carbon cuts needed to meet the 5 per cent target for 2020, about 100 million tonnes will have been bought overseas.

According to the modelling, the new tax would shave 0.1 per cent a year from continued economic growth and have virtually no impact on overall job creation.

The package includes an independently run $10 billion clean energy finance corporation to co-invest in clean and renewable energy projects, and $5.5 billion for coal-fired electricity generators.

A new climate change authority, to advise on emission reduction targets, will be chaired by a former governor of the Reserve Bank, Bernie Fraser.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/climate-change/a-clean-start-20110710-1h93w.html#ixzz1RjhLNGDA

[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]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Carbon tax could wipe $1.7bn from Queensland assets: state government

Carbon tax could wipe $1.7bn from Queensland assets: state government
Petrina Berry
July 11, 2011 - 6:02AM

The Queensland government is refusing to support the federal government's carbon pricing scheme over concerns the value of state-owned power assets could fall by billions of dollars.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced on Sunday details of the carbon tax package, including compensation for households and industry.

But Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser says it is unclear whether the loss in state asset values have been factored.

He said the tax will push down the value of the state's electricity generators such as power supplier CS Energy and Stanwell power station, near Rockhampton.

"Initial estimates show that the asset value of the generators is likely to decrease by around $1.7 billion," Mr Fraser told reporters yesterday.

"We think it is economically responsible to price carbon.

"This package does many things that meet our test but there are parts of it that are going to require further talk with the Commonwealth before we can commit our support."

He said industry groups want a higher proportion of taxpayers' money but compensation should be fair to both the private and public sectors.

"The arrangements with the LNG industry look like it will allow this industry to proceed and we will confirm that in discussions from this point onwards," Mr Fraser said.

"There is assistance there for the coal industry, which is very important to Queensland.

"But we want to make sure the generated compensation arrangements don't disadvantage Queensland and don't do that at the expense of Queensland."

Mr Fraser says he's pleased the majority of householders will receive compensation with some expected to be better off financially than before.

He says it's also a plus that the agricultural sector has been excluded from paying the tax.

But state opposition party leader Campbell Newman said the tax would hit Queensland's resource sector hard and the compensation was inadequate.

"We are a state that relies heavily on the coal industry...," he said.

"Over the next 10 years the coal industry will pay some $18 billion in tax but will receive assistance only to the tune of $1.2 billion over the next six years."

The Queensland Resources Council is forecasting job losses of more than 13,000.

"The carbon tax is going to cost 2700 Queensland coal workers their jobs, possibly as soon as 2018," QRC chief executive Michael Roche said in a statement.

"Taking into account the flow-on to industries servicing the sector, total job losses of more than 13,000 have been forecast by consultants."

Mr Roche said diesel costs will also rise by around 16 per cent, imposing another substantial cost on mining industries that cannot pass them on to global customers.

He said the carbon tax could result in mine closures and see Australia miss out on mining projects to competitors such as Indonesia, Colombia, South Africa and the United States who don't have to pay a carbon tax.

"In regions like central Queensland where one in every four jobs is created by the resources sector, the futility of this carbon tax is going to hit home hardest," he said.

AAP

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/carbon-tax-could-wipe-17bn-from-queensland-assets-state-government-20110711-1h9cz.html

[ozbob]

Media release 11 July 2011

Queensland: Call for Queensland Government to lobby Federal Government on Carbon Tax Plan transport failure

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 called on the Queensland Government to back a sustainable transport future and lobby the Federal Government directly to fix up the botched Carbon Tax transport plan.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The carbon tax plan 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."

"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. A policy that promotes car use but penalises public and active transport is idiotic."

"We call on the Queensland Government to urgently lobby on behalf of Queenslanders to get a real sustainable transport future in place."

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]

From Sky News click here!

Coach industry unhappy

Coach industry unhappy
Updated: 16:22, Sunday July 10, 2011

The bus and coach industry says the federal government's carbon tax package does nothing to support non-car passenger transport.

'The government's climate change plan identified car use as the highest source of household emissions and recognised the impact on household budgets of driving a car, but (it) but did nothing to encourage viable alternatives to the car.' the executive director of the Bus Industry Confederation (BIC), Michael Apps, said.

Mr Apps said a full bus was equivalent to taking 40 cars off the road and was a 'good carbon' transport alternative.

'If we get our public transport systems right and get motorists using them, there are clear emissions reductions and economic benefits,' he said in a statement on Sunday.

Under the government's plan, the heavy transport operators, such as bus companies, will start paying the $23-a-tonne carbon tax in 2014.

'We are not the trucking industry,' Mr Apps said.

'We serve a different purpose which in the long run reduces carbon emissions. We are a good carbon' transport provider and need to be treated as such.'

[ozbob]

From the ABC The Drum click here!

Carbon tax for the price of a broken promise

Carbon tax for the price of a broken promise

Australia's latest, and probably its last, climate change scheme is the child of a marriage between unstoppable bureaucratic momentum and political desperation ...

[ozbob]

http://greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/putting-australia-road-cleaner-transport

Putting Australia on the road to cleaner transport

Putting Australia on the road to cleaner transport
Media Release | Spokesperson Christine Milne
Sunday 10th July 2011, 11:50am

A substantial cut in the fuel tax credit for miners, taking the first steps towards helping Australians get into more efficient cars and a review of the fuel excise system are key components of the MPCCC agreement to put a price on pollution announced today.

"This carbon price package delivers some important progress in getting Australia on the road to cleaner transport," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

"While much more still needs to be done to support public transport, regional trains, high speed rail and more, and the Greens believe transport should ultimately be included in carbon pricing, the recognition today that fuel subsidies and taxes need to change marks the beginning of a new way of thinking for Australian governments."

Greening the carbon price agreement to help the transformation to cleaner transport:
• Cutting the fuel tax credit for miners (which means mining companies pay less for their fuel than everyday Australians) by 6c/L. The full 38c/L credit will remain for agriculture, fisheries, forestry and trucking;
• Requiring the Productivity Commission to review fuel excise arrangements with a view to moving to a regime based explicitly on the carbon content of fuels; and
• Consulting widely with the community on mandatory vehicle carbon dioxide standards before standards are determined and announced by the end of the year.

"The fuel tax credit, which means that mining companies haven't paid a cent of excise on their diesel for years while ordinary Australians carry the can for them, is simply unfair.

"Cutting that credit back by 6c a litre is an important step in tackling climate change - and one which will save the government $1.8 billion over the forward estimates.

"Following the reform of the Fringe Benefits Tax Concession which encouraged people to drive further, tackling these perverse fossil fuel subsidies has been a key Greens policy objective. It makes good economic sense and is consistent with Australia's G20 obligations to remove fossil fuel subsidies.

"We have always said that this carbon pricing package needs to be a platform for stronger action into the future, and a detailed inquiry into Australia's fuel tax regime is a critical part of that platform.

"Australia needs to change the objective of fuel excise from revenue-raising to more efficient resource use by taxing heavily polluting fuels more and cleaner fuels less, and the Productivity Commission will be specifically tasked with examining that prospect.

"As peak oil continues to drive petrol prices through the roof, we really need to help Australians get into more efficient - ultimately plug-in electric - cars, but the mandatory vehicle carbon dioxide emission standards that the government has been contemplating for some time would effectively lock us into business-as-usual incremental efficiency gains.

"This agreement not only commits to mandatory standards by the end of the year but also to broader consultation beyond industry before setting the standards.

"While the Greens would have loved to see transport properly included in carbon pricing, and wanted to deliver big investments in high speed rail and commuter public transport through this package, we are pleased with progress on fossil fuel subsidies, fuel excise and efficiency standards."

Very, very disappointing Greens ... spin doesn't hide your failure for ensuring a sound basis for sustainable land transport.  Rail and bus industry is not at all impressed.

[ozbob]

LNP Leader Campbell Newman Statement

--> Bligh MIA on carbon tax

[Golliwog]

From the Courier Mail 'plebiscite':

Will the carbon tax change your energy consumption?
Yes, I'll make cuts to save money 15.16% (2000 votes)
Yes, green is the way to go 5.98% (789 votes)
No, I'm being compensated why change? 14.58% (1923 votes)
No, climate change is a myth 64.28% (8479 votes)
Total votes: 13191

Thats how it stands this morning. That nearly 65% of people who voted think climate change is a myth worries me.

[Mr X]

CourierMail is full of old people/bogans who can't see past their front door. People to avoid 

[ozbob]

CourierMail is full of old people/bogans who can't see past their front door. People to avoid 

I think proportionally the bloggers are a younger demographic, inline with new technology users.  Bogans are probably having a 'big day out' at the local mall rather than blogging ...    In any case, there are some entrenched views with many of the CM bloggers ...

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Carbon tax pushes airfares higher

[Fares_Fair]

... and so it begins.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Golliwog]

Gah! Yes the carbon tax is going to push up prices. It how its designed to work.

Lets gloss over the fact that any price increase is miniscule compared to the pre-existing price. That BT articles states Quantas only expects the average airfare to rise by an average of $3.50. Despite Abbotts numerous scare campaign interviews out the front of supermarkets and the like, the modelling reveals it expects the average weekly shop of $200 to go up by less than $1.  The Courier Mail this morning pointed out Treasury modelling shows the tax is going to cost the coal industry $1.80 per tonne of coal, which they currently sell for roughly $300 per tonne (coking coal).

Nope, this is obviously a terrible idea and that extra $1.80 per tonne of coal is absolutely going to kill the coal mining industry...

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> New tax delivers benefits: Neumann

Crikey, the blog comments at the QT are rather savage ...  the only thing that comes close was the 'Great bus fiasco' ...  serious signs ..

[ozbob]

Front Page of the Melbourne mX 11th July 2011

[ozbob]

Cars are encouraged, public transport is discouraged,  gee this is the sort of 'smart state' logic going national ... remind me please, is this carbon tax actually an improvement for the environment?

[WTN]

Let's not forget what gets a carbon tax (no matter how small):

Electricity: Taxed
Gas/LPG: Taxed
Groceries and household goods: Taxed (via electricity, shipping, and from 2014, bulk road transport)
Rail transport: Taxed
Ferry transport: Taxed
Bus transport: Taxed (from 2014)
Car transport: NOT Taxed!

What's so special about the precious car and bulk road transport when other energy uses are taxed? Was it too difficult to compensate or make "revenue neutral"?

EDIT: Sea and air transport are taxed too.

[Mr X]

A car tax would p%ss off marginal swing voters

[Golliwog]

One thing to point out is this could easily be the narrow end of the wedge. Once this start off legislation is passed, I feel it would be much easier to come along at a later date and include some new things, or remove some or whatever.

[somebody]

One thing to point out is this could easily be the narrow end of the wedge. Once this start off legislation is passed, I feel it would be much easier to come along at a later date and include some new things, or remove some or whatever.

I don't really agree with this.  If legislation is to be passed, why not get it right?  Exempting cars and the other exemptions seem to make it rather pointless as an environmental policy.

[Golliwog]

One thing to point out is this could easily be the narrow end of the wedge. Once this start off legislation is passed, I feel it would be much easier to come along at a later date and include some new things, or remove some or whatever.

I don't really agree with this.  If legislation is to be passed, why not get it right?  Exempting cars and the other exemptions seem to make it rather pointless as an environmental policy.

Because if the options are exempt cars and have the independants accept it and get it through, or not exempt cars and have the independants reject it and it won't get through at all, can you guess which is the better choice?

EDIT: Let me be clear, I think car's should be included. But if the only way it is going to get in is if they're excluded for now then thats fine by me. As I've said before, given the way prices on petrol are going, I'm of the opinion its not overly critical anyway, as most sensible people will be reducing how much they drive unless they really really have to.

[ozbob]

The Carbon tax transport policy is absurd IMHO and needs to be changed before legislation if it gets up, I think that may well occur anyway ...  the Greens have a plan to ramp up fuel excises as well. Now that will really upset the masses ... lol

Meanwhile, the various little impacts will start to appear now, these cummulative revelations will all push up the cost of living significantly, the biggest challenge for the mass propaganda ..

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Carbon price to bump up rates

Carbon price to bump up rates
Tony Moore
July 12, 2011

The Federal Government's carbon price will add one per cent - or $12 a year- to Brisbane rates due to greenhouse gas emissions from the city's landfills, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk confirmed last night.

The net 200,000 tonnes of carbon emissions from Brisbane's landfills will cost the city $4.6 million, at $23 a tonne.

After last week saying the carbon price would have no impact on rates, Cr Quirk said checks on council's landfill operations yesterday confirmed the cost.

"While detail of the Federal Government's carbon tax remains to be considered, ratepayers could face an increase of around a full percent on top of their current rates bill," he said.

Brisbane is Australia's largest council, with a budget half the size of the state of Tasmania.

Cr Quirk said he was disappointed to learn of the hidden cost after council had taken steps to reduce emissions.

"Brisbane City Council is the only level of government taking carbon reductions seriously and we are taking real and practical action and have halved emissions in the past 20 years through reductions and offsets," he said.

Council emits about 200,000 net tonnes per year from landfills.

It has reduced emissions from 500,000 tonnes in 1990 after buying "green" electricity and buying carbon offsets.

Cr Quirk said it was difficult to judge the long-term cost of the carbon pricing scheme, with the scheme set to shift to a market-driver emissions trading scheme in July 2015.

"The future prices of carbon offsets and Green Power are unknown but could impose additional costs as demand increases, placing further pressure on council's and household budgets," he said.

A spokesman for Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said income tax cuts and assistance measures were meant to help offset rising prices.

"The government's household assistance package has been designed to help people with price impacts including impacts on rates," he said.

"Applying a carbon price to landfill facilities reflects both the pollution generated by these facilities and will create incentives for measures to reduce that pollution including encouraging recycling and reuse."

Meanwhile around 100 Queensland companies - including the Queensland Government-owned CS Energy, Tarong Energy, the Stanwell Corporation, private mines and airlines Virgin Blue and Qantas - are among Australia's top 500 carbon "polluters".

The figure of 100 firms was yesterday confirmed by Treasurer Wayne Swan's office.

An indicative list of which companies might be included in Australia's top 500 carbon "polluters" can be gleaned from the 2009-10 greenhouse gas statistics released by the National Greenhouse Gas office earlier this year.

This list also includes Brisbane City Council (233,000 tonnes) - which emits two-thirds of the carbon emissions of New Hope Coal (300,000 tonnes).

Queensland Resources Council chairman Michael Roche was critical of the carbon price and estimated 2700 jobs would be lost from Queensland mines, while six mines would close.

"It hurts our competitive position and it gives us the highest carbon price anywhere in the world," Mr Roche said.

This was rejected by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, who said modelling showed mine profits would fall by around 0.4 per cent.

"If that is the cost of protecting the Great Barrier Reef and Australia's precious environment, I think that is a pretty good balance," she said.

The 2011 National Greenhouse Gas inventory shows Queensland Government-owned electricity generators are Queensland's worst "carbon polluters", and yet some of its biggest employers.

It includes:

- CS Energy (16.83 million tonnes of emissions), owned by the Queensland Government;

- Tarong Energy ( 8.34 million tonnes), owned by the Queensland Government;

- Stanwell Energy (8.24 million tonnes); owned by the Queensland Government;

- Alinta Energy (7.87 million tonnes) with its natural gas powered power station at Braeside, north-west of Roma;

- Anglo American Coal (4.01 million tonnes) which runs two, billion-dollar underground longwall mines in central Queensland at Grosvenor and Moranbah South;

- Qantas Airways Limited ( 3.96 million tonnes);

- Queensland Alumina Limited (3.56 million tonnes), which runs one of the world's largest aluminium refineries at Gladstone;

- Santos (3.58 million tonnes), with extensive gas reserves in central Queensland;

- Peabody Energy Australia (2.6 million tonnes) which runs mines in the Bowen and Surat Basin;

- Xstrata Holdings (2.7 million tonnes), with mines at Collinsville, Newlands, Oaky Creek and Rolleston; and

- Virgin Blue (1.73 million tonnes) with its headquarters at Bowen Hills.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/carbon-price-to-bump-up-rates-20110711-1hapd.html#ixzz1Rov6pApT

[ozbob]

Let's not forget what gets a carbon tax (no matter how small):

Electricity: Taxed
Gas/LPG: Taxed
Groceries and household goods: Taxed (via electricity, shipping, and from 2014, bulk road transport)
Rail transport: Taxed
Ferry transport: Taxed
Bus transport: Taxed (from 2014)
Car transport: NOT Taxed!

What's so special about the precious car and bulk road transport when other energy uses are taxed? Was it too difficult to compensate or make "revenue neutral"?

Agree WTN, this is the major flaw in the Carbon tax transport policy.  The Government is behoven to the independents and greens hence corrupted policy.  Poor policy is not a subsitute for good government.  I have a feeling that when the Greens real agenda is revealed independents may actually do somersaults ..

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

12th July 2011

Flawed policy is not green policy

Greetings,

The Carbon tax transport policy is seriously flawed.  If trucks and cars continue on their congesting polluting ways, and public transport fares increase what is going to happen?

The Carbon tax transport policy is anti-environment and a load of bull.  It needs urgent attention to treat all transport modes at least equally.

The real risk of favouring trucks and cars is that it will set up a disasterous transport future as sustainable transport modes are pushed into the background.  When the fuel crisis hits we will be in a very sad state indeed.  It is clear that trucks and cars are the heavy polluters, cost our community heavily in terms of road damage particularly trucks, cause massive costs to the health sector as a consquence of road trauma, particularly the mounting injury toll (something usually glossed over by the media with their fixation on fatalities only), and then the direct congestion costs?

The Carbon tax transport scheme is a failure unless it addresses the transport issues.  The Greens have let the side down.  They are now at risk of decending into irrelevance.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

On 11/07/2011 6:15 PM, RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:
Greetings,

Like to draw your attention to the front page of the Melbourne mX tonight.  Oh dear ...

Penalising public transport and promoting cars is IDIOTIC, and dare I suggest anti-environment ...

See -- http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6307.msg62859#msg62859

Best wishes
Robert


On 11/07/2011 6:36 AM, RAIL Back On Track Admin wrote:
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]

Melbourne Age --> Gillard's figures don't add up for pensioners

[ozbob]

Media release 12 July 2011

SEQ: Further public transport fare increases add to the carbon concerns

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 said the Carbon Tax transport policy will mean additonal fare imposts for already struggling public transport users in south-east Queensland.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Recent fare increases and projected 15% per annum increases for the next three years have already placed public transport fares in south-east Queensland as amongst the highest relative cost in the world (1). The impact of the Carbon Tax on public transport fares is likely to be very signficant and worsen an already serious situation with fare cost-impacts."

"It was reported in Melbourne yesterday that fare increases of around 7% per annum from the Carbon tax are likely (2).  When you add that to the present and projected fare costs in south-east Queensland this is going further drive people back onto roads and exacerbate the ever worsening road congestion mess with runaway cost impacts to our community through congestion, evironmental impacts, and massive road trauma health sector expenditure."

"Trucks and cars are not being hit with a carbon tax (3).  This failure to treat all transport modes equitably will further distort transport effects and lead to a monumental transport failure."

References:

1. http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares/planned-fares

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6307.msg62859#msg62859

3. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6353.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

The Australian --> Road and rail groups stand to lose more than $500m in fuel rebates

[frereOP]

If it wasn't for the delicate balance in goverment with the Red Blue and Green and the Independents I doubt if it would have gotten this far. 

Compromise to a point is reasonable, but once it gets to the silly stage, might be better to start again.

The "balance of power" only exists because the major political parties have prostituted the parliamentary process by requiring "their members" (who were actually elected to represent their constituents and not their political party) to vote along party lines on the floor of parliament.  Australia is the only country in the world where this is the case and in some countries (like Germany) it is illegal for political parties to do just that.  So the "balance of power" scenario is a political artifact of their own making so they now have to deal with the consequences which is ultimately bad government for all of us.

[frereOP]

My point was that we are now seeing quotes like this

More than 80 per cent of those polled supported an increase in federal government funding for public transport and 87 per cent wanted government investment in public transport to address the issue of traffic congestion in major cities.

that will have the advisers scrambling to understand what they have missed!!!

Yes, but WHO is going to pay for it?  Politicians get elected to reduce taxes (Tony Abbot syndrome) but then can't afford to pay for essential infrastructure so prices go up instead.  We then end up in the situation we have in Qld where we are paying for our massive infrastuctre investment via the non-tax routes (ie higher water, electricity and public transport prices and toll roads).  The result of that is that everyone complains about the cost of living being too high.  Still, they can all afford the second car, the plasma TV the iPad, the lastest smart phone and the annual overseas holiday.  I think it's time we got real.  If politicians make their bed, they need to learn to lie in it - and lying is what they do best.

Hello frereOp,

Just as a footnote, I and my family do not have (or do) a single item you mention here.
I do take your point however.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Point taken.  My point is of course is a generalisation but it doesn't take away from the fact that our impression of "doing it tough" has to be taken in context of what "doing it tough" really is.  Doing it tough "Australian style" would be living in the height of luxury in many places in the world where children die in their millions every year due to poverty, starvation and contaminated water; people are homeless and dispossessed due to civil war and conflict; and people die of curable diseases because they can't afford simple medicines.  I think to a large extent we are being brainwashed into believing we are "doing it tough" by our own political rhetoric and it really is time for a reality check.

[Zoiks]

Please... very few Australians are actually doing it really tough. People just like to whinge and complain.

As for the leaving out of cars from the plan, I actually read it was an independent sticking point which the greens caved in on in order to 1. Pass the legislation 2. Up the 2050 target.

The greens also got a few other concessions. The productivity commission will be all over this quickly and will recommend bringing private transport into it.

So im will Golliwog on this one. This is probably the best plan that could be introduced in the current political climate. And it is certainly a whole heap better then anything that has come out of Abbotts camp on the issue

[Golliwog]

And it is certainly a whole heap better then anything that has come out of Abbotts camp on the issue

I look forward to hearing the outcome of the peoples question time thing on Thursday night. A number of the questions people had for Mr Abbott in today CM seemed to be along the lines of "What is your plan?" as so far whenever he's attacked the Carbon Tax he's spruiked his Direct Action plan but has given little if any detail about it. Everytime someone has asked about it (like on Sunday) he's deflected with "We will have a full policy ready for the next election". IIRC he's talked about Direct Action as soon as or soon after the Carbon Tax came back on the agenda, and while the Carbon Tax now has its details available, theres nothing from his camp yet. People certainly seem to be over his "Mine will be better because I say it will be" rhetoric. Even some of my mates who have never been Labor supporters (and still aren't) have been describing Abbott as a knob.

[SteelPan]

The Gillard approach to the Carbon Tax has clearly destroyed her re-election chances and rightly so.  The mindless rant of "man-made climate change" is simply not proven and the entire matter seems now to be nothing more than the latest meal ticket for single-issue-obsessives to spin around the world on the public purse.

It may well be that in the years ahead - all nations and that's the key - all nations - do need to develop responses that may, in time, possibly take the form of something generally like a carbon tax, who knows!  However, this political ego stroking nonsense of "Australia leading the world..." HAS TO STOP!     We are a modest size economy, heavily dependant on the resources sector to PAY THE BILLS and we should in NO-WAY make moves until the "gorillas-in-the-global-room" have!  Australia is NOT, repeat NOT, going to lead anyone, anywhere on these issues, as former short-lived PM and world leading obsessive "Dudd" found out in Copenhagen a few years back.  Remember, he went over there, with about 1/2 the nation in his support-party, all self-set to lead the world toward the environmental new dawn, only to find some "upstart" called...uhhmm the President of the United States hit town and suprise-suprise, had more pull with other nations! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT!!!

Now we have a Green Party driven administration, determined "to close every coal and iron-ore mine in the country" (what the ) - in the process destroying our nations economy, putting millions out of work - why?  In a week, a month, EVERY modest carbon "saving" we achieve - others will pump out and thank "Aussie" in the process for helping them become 1st world, whilst we dive to 3rd world status!!!!!!!!  

Luckily of course, with an ALP Government, an AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY Government, such a UTTERLY STUPID plan will never be announced, because an AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY would  N E V E R  put millions of jobs at risk - and soon I'll rollover and wake from this Terrifying Nightmare!

ALP - STOP THIS MADNESS NOW!

[Golliwog]

While I agree that I don't think the US is now going to turn around and say "Jeez guys, those Aussie's have an Carbon Tax/ETS so we better follow suit!" the idea that we should do nothing because hey, in the scheme of things we're not massive emitters, is an excuse not to cut emissions. Yes our economy is very much supported by the mining industry and this plan is going to have a negative (and small) impact on them, but it's not like we've told them to get out of town. Overtime our economy can and will change and I can see other ("greener") technology taking up more and more of our economy.

[Fares_Fair]

The Gillard approach to the Carbon Tax has clearly destroyed her re-election chances and rightly so.  The mindless rant of "man-made climate change" is simply not proven and the entire matter seems now to be nothing more than the latest meal ticket for single-issue-obsessives to spin around the world on the public purse.

It may well be that in the years ahead - all nations and that's the key - all nations - do need to develop responses that may, in time, possibly take the form of something generally like a carbon tax, who knows!  However, this political ego stroking nonsense of "Australia leading the world..." HAS TO STOP!     We are a modest size economy, heavily dependant on the resources sector to PAY THE BILLS and we should in NO-WAY make moves until the "gorillas-in-the-global-room" have!  Australia is NOT, repeat NOT, going to lead anyone, anywhere on these issues, as former short-lived PM and world leading obsessive "Dudd" found out in Copenhagen a few years back.  Remember, he went over there, with about 1/2 the nation in his support-party, all self-set to lead the world toward the environmental new dawn, only to find some "upstart" called...uhhmm the President of the United States hit town and suprise-suprise, had more pull with other nations! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT!!!

Now we have a Green Party driven administration, determined "to close every coal and iron-ore mine in the country" (what the ) - in the process destroying our nations economy, putting millions out of work - why?  In a week, a month, EVERY modest carbon "saving" we achieve - others will pump out and thank "Aussie" in the process for helping them become 1st world, whilst we dive to 3rd world status!!!!!!!!  

Luckily of course, with an ALP Government, an AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY Government, such a UTTERLY STUPID plan will never be announced, because an AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY would  N E V E R  put millions of jobs at risk - and soon I'll rollover and wake from this Terrifying Nightmare!

ALP - STOP THIS MADNESS NOW!

+1

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Australians demand carbon tax vote

[cartoonbirdhaus]

Please... very few Australians are actually doing it really tough.

Ten percent of the population are. That's a significant number. And several others know full well that they could easily end up in a similar situation themselves, due to circumstances beyond their control. We already pay rip-off amounts for housing and utilities, not just luxuries (many of which are reasonably cheap if you have enough money left after shelling out for the basics). At the same time, I realise there a lot of people who like to fancy themselves as "battlers" when they can afford a McMansion complete with a "media room", and hotted-up ute that doesn't have too much fuel efficiency. But that doesn't change the fact that a significant proportion of us are struggling.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 12th July 2011 page 1

Ticket to rise