Juan Said:

What do you think of PM Julia Gillard saying that she will have to break election promises re carbon tax?

We Answered:

The first paragraph in your link says it all, and I honestly expected this to be the case in a hung parliament situation. I believe the "carbon price" policy, like many other polices (including the NBN timetable, the mining tax and the off shore asylum seeker policy) will all have to be re-negotiated with the Independent members and the Greens now.

My personal view is, and always has been - that we don't NEED a price on carbon to battle climate change - it hasn't helped Europe reduce their emissions and it does nothing to encourage business (and energy suppliers) to reduce emissions because they simply recover the additional costs from us, their consumers. I think we also need to understand the small but still significant difference between Labors' policy for a market-based Emissions Trading Scheme (to make the bankers and investors rich) and the Greens policy of a government administered "Carbon Tax" (to make the government rich). I support policies that will reduce the financial pressures on Australian families and involve more renewable energy infrastructure, more initial incentives and higher subsidies for initial household solar power connections and increase tree planting and water conservation initiatives. At the absolute most, I would expect that a simple 0.5% increase in GST would cover most of this (as an environmental protection levy) but an outright "carbon tax" or ETS is a ridiculous idea with no measureable benefit to the environment and I have to wonder about the ulterior motives of those who support the ETS plan.

Sorry about the rant Bella... the subject can get me a bit emotional haha! But of course Mr Kloppers wants the best deal he can possibly get from any proposed carbon tax. But if EVERY business is getting a 100% tax rebate on the new tax, then why even bother having the tax in place at all? If anything, it's big businesses like BHP or Woolworths and Coles or McDonald's or virtually all government department offices that are the worst carbon emitters of all with lights and electrical appliances ON 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and hundreds of company cars and delivery trucks on the roads. Everyday household emissions are much lower, but you can't tax businesses without that cost being passed on to consumers. So what other options are there I wonder?

Jimmy Said:

Who is likely to win the general election?

We Answered:

Extremely unlikely, he is very behind in the polls and the general perception is that he's too old and 'over it'. Kevin Rudd is the leader of the Labour Party and will most likely win. However, Howard has turned around these things before.

Paul Said:

I have a question about the Australian election.?

We Answered:

Australians love their socialism.

Sean Said:

Australian Election: Who Is The Prime Minister:P?

We Answered:

It's a hung Parliament.

Karl Said:

Australian news help?

We Answered:

I hope this helps!
http://www.news.com.au/
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/
http://apo.org.au/
http://www.globalissues.org/news/2009/04…
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/
http://www.humanrightsact.com.au/2008/
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journ…