How will a carbon tax affect the building industry?

its nothing more than a tax grab.

over a year ago by wim van wyk

Thanks for your article on the effect of a carbon tax on the building industry. As both consumer of housing products/services and a participant in the industry I have been waiting a long time for a price signal like this that will encourage more fair dinkum green industry investment instead of having to buy green products from overseas manufacturers/suppliers or wait until it becomes affordable/available here in Aus. I don't want Australia to miss out on this opportunity, lets get on with it and be at the front of the pack instead of winging like it's all too hard.

over a year ago by pk

Scientists agree? Which one's? There has been no definitive proof this is why the debate rages on. We are the only country with a carbon price an ETS ( as with the other countries) is a very different thing. Just bought a house in Holland so I'm outta here. Best of luck folks, you'll need it............PK is that you Mr Keating?

over a year ago by Anthony

Ok carbon tax???, the question how many taxes could we handle, we are the biggest tax payers in the world

over a year ago by BAz

You need to correct your aticle. Not all scientist agree that the world is warming. There are a great number of scientists who dispute man made global warming. Global warming alarmists have made many a prediction regarding the effects of global warming. The Great barrier reef dying off. It's in better shape today than it ever has been. Queensland will run out of water. "Yeah right!" The USA and Europe have just gone through one of there coldest winters. Countries that have introduced emmission trading schemes are winding them back due to the adverse effect they are having on their economies. Germany's green jobs cost an estimated $250,000 dollars each to create. Just remember this Julia Gillard lied to the Australian people. No carbon tax under the govement I lead. Liar!! Tradies, get ready for a bumpy ride. If this tax gets in you can flush this lucky county down the toilet. At least John Howard went to an election on the GST. Julia Gillard. Liar Liar!!

over a year ago by Serge

it annoys me hearing the arguments against. Skipping countries isnt going to exclude anyone, tax grabbing, liar...etc. Now that you've got that off your chest how 'bout being realistic. You people dont care for the future of your next generations? This situation didn't just happen overnight. At least 20 years of warning isn't enough for industries to get their act together. They have been riding high for too long without too many consequences. So I say, it should never have come to this. Shame on you who blame Julia. Is she the only one who cares for the welfare of this country, globally (the world) She is only one person and she has laid her political career on the line for this. Julia has integrity and guts. She would be out on her ear if she wasn't doing her job and now, because she's doing too good of a job everyones crying wolf. Priorities!!! Money or Pollution. It's a no brainer for me. To those who are against the tax how about having a go at the root of this situation. Oh thats right, they're not as visible as Julia!

over a year ago by no brainer

What a load of rubbish!!!! It's another TAX scam. Charge the large companies that are contributing to Co2 emissions ONLY, not the average family///.... we cannot afford any more taxes - this country will end up like 'other' certain countries (in recession). Everything is going up, up up, bar wages....... when will it stop? It won't, not until the government have bled us dry.... JG has gone against her word and is now frightened to have an early election........... yes! she knows many people are AGAINST this!!!!!!!!

over a year ago by T

I cant believe that Australian people let this just happen over night, i blame people and not Prime Ministers. We should be on the streets screaming loud and doing protests.
I cant understand you Australian people?
Cant you see how many taxes you are paying?
This country is in recession big time, but media is not allowed to show it and to scare people.
Australia is copying American regime, and it will end up just like they did.

over a year ago by European

This is really horrible man.. The motive of GBCA (Green Building Council of Australia) behind the carbon tax is superb. But i still think not only the Australia is responsible for this but also the the people from all over the world is responsible for the global warming and since now no solution being fond by scientist. But we can not blame them for their unsuccessful work because all are working their best to prevent global warming and to control spreading carbon into an environment.

over a year ago by Shaker Kitchen Cabinets

Yeah, John Howard brought in the GST AFTER an election. He made no mention of Workchoices but implemented that dud just the same. Julia's main problem is she listens too much to advisors who can't advise. The Labor government has done some amazing things since 2007. All you whingers should be thankful you have a job, cos you probably wouldn't have if Libs had been in power through the GFC. Our grandkids are going to look back at us one day and despise our inaction and greed. Won't blame them one bit...

over a year ago by GReGGLeS

Thank you so much for a reasonable explanation. Simple facts. What a relief. It's so refreshing after all the spittle-flecked politicking. Maybe fear and hatred won't win!

over a year ago by julie

This tax will have absolutely no impact on AGW. It is a non fix to a non issue. It is purely a grab for cash designed to keep JuLIAR in power and re-distribute wealth.

over a year ago by Ozzifutura

Thanks for a balanced article on a difficult topic. I think the carbon Price is a great idea. It will make some products more expensive, but that will force me to think more about energy efficiency and whether I really need that extra room when I'm planning my renovation. I installed solar cells last year and the tank is coming next month, so I've preempted some of the price rises. Now I can persuade my friends that they should do the same and ease the pressure on their hip pockets.

over a year ago by FelineCyclist

Wow. I would personally like to thank you for being an industry-associated group who are not seeing the carbon tax as a useful excuse to justify rising prices and spread unfounded scare campaigns. This is a considered and fairly balanced article which considers different persectives and quite rightly conscludes that while the tax may have some minor short-term pain for consumers, it represents an important restructuring of our economy and is worth supporting. The vast majority of peer-reviewed science has long ago come to a practical consensus, most economists back the plan, and there has been a lot of unjustified scaremongering for cheap political gain. The tax will get passed in a few months time, there will minimal effects to the everydfay consumer and most of us will barely notice the change and wonder what the fuss was all about.

Serge Posted at: 18 Jul 2011 - 10:11pm
"The USA and Europe have just gone through one of there coldest winters."
Yes Serge, and the US is now experiencing a major heatwave. Please, climate science is massively complex and it is not as simple as "gee, Winter still feeels cold to me!" It is about GLOBAL temperature averages not local weather and it is about CHANGING climatic extremes.

over a year ago by Ron

Scientists do not agree - very misleading to suggest they do! Wealth re-distribution and creating a weflare dependant state. Shame of the Fabians in charge at the moment! History will be damning!

over a year ago by Jamie Westlake

Nice, mostly neutral article. It's a pity it drew the typical comments from people with their heads in the sand. The longer we put off joining the globe in doing something to reduce emissions the further we'll be left behind which will bring pretty drastic financial risks and many missed opportunities.

As for the "rarrrrr liarrrrr" comments, what constitutes a lie? A political backflip? Saying one thing one day then something different the next? Changing their mind? I think if we were to hold the oppositions noisy head-man to the same standards he'd be not only called a liar but deemed to be a pathological one at that especially in this last fortnight.

He supported an ETS then when he got a sniff of leadership he didn't support one. One minute he thinks a straight up tax would be best, next straight up tax is worst, next he wants to do a straight up tax. One minute his government would reduce emissions by 5% the next saying that the Gillard government is stupid if they want to aim for 5% as it's so high and 'the rest of the world aren't doing that'.

I like to remind myself of the following when contemplating over the tax:

The longer we wait, the further behind we will be. John Howard, when pushing his ETS said things like "We will lead the world" "we will be the first to push forward and be leaders rather than followers" and other such things. He could see what everyone else could, the quicker we get in the more opportunity we have to build industry in Australia. The longer we wait the more we miss out.

Australians are, out of the other 195 odd countries, the highest emitters per capita in the world. We emit around 1.5% in total yet have far far less than 1% of the worlds population.

More than 30 nations currently have an ETS or a tax or something, many more are trialling pilots including China.

Everywhere else it has passed generally painlessly, it’s almost embarrassing to see the headless chookery, name calling, death threats and other such thing we are doing over it.

Through multiple surveys 97% of scientists in the field said yes, carbon is a greenhouse gas, yes greenhouse gasses effect the climate, yes man made emissions are having the negative result. 2% said they weren't sure yet 1% said no, climate change is a myth. I tell you what if I went to 100 doctors and 97 sad I had cancer 2 said they weren't sure and 1 said 'nahhh mate you'll be right' I know which I'd be listening to.

over a year ago by Charlie

There is one fundamental question that Julia Gilliard can not answer and keeps dogding and that is 'by how much will this tax reduce the temperature of the earth?'.
Labor is short for economic mismanagement. They need a scare campaign that the world is coming to an end to implement yet another tax when the truth of the matter is the world has actually cooled in the last 8 years. The target is to reduce our emissions by 5%. China will be increasing their's in the coming years by 500%. This will knock Australia off its rocker and we will see this great country reduced to nothing. Julia, you are a puppet for the Greens and Labor needs to see the true extent this tax will do to our nation and replace their leader.

over a year ago by Wally

wow its only by reading through comments to articles such as this that I've realised how much nonsense people will believe before accepting change. The great barrier reef is in better condition than ever !!? Having scuba dived up there last year I can tell you that it is in its WORSE condition ever, but you dont need to go there youself, some impartial reading of material published by marine biologists will tell you that.

'Not all scientists agree that the world is warming' - honestly thats such an old line now that its embarrassing when skeptics bring it up. You will ALWAYS find scientists that disagree about a scientific principle and thats how it should be, but the point is that the overwhelming majority of CLIMATE SCIENTISTS do agree that man-made climate change is happening.

As for the carbon tax, I'm a long time Liberal voter but I support this because I want a market mechanism for managing CO2 emissions. Australian houses have better energy ratings now but are still well short of most developed countries, I'm happy to pay the cost on my next house and get us on par - I'd probably recoup the cost in energy savings anyhow.

Prices are going up and up - aint that the truth! But its not the carbon tax thats created the price hikes in food and energy over the last few years - it hasnt been implemented yet! If anything our DELAY in implementing some kind of CO2 reduction mechanism has lead to investor uncertainty and resulting price increases.

over a year ago by Phil

Allsafe

Carbon Dioxide is not a pollutant but it should be taxed.Maybe oxygen next but double the tax so those that can't afford to pay can go live on another planet.Juliar is the shephard and her faithful followers moronic sheep.Don't bleat when she will wan't more than you can give.

over a year ago by allsafe

I thought your article was measured and helpful...taking both "sides" into account. We are now on the path of a tax on CO2 pollution so we can all get together to use cleaner energy and make our houses more energy efficient. We qre about to build a new house and look forward to the challenge ahead.
Thanks again

over a year ago by Michael Nott

The word tax should have been avoided at any cost. It seems that most of the people are unable to go past this first word without protesting. I don't believe that the sceptics are happy to sacrifice the future generations for an extra beer today. They just are unable to comprehend the whole issue way beyond their education. Perhaps an extended education on this issue and assurance on the next week's 'half dozen' will win the sceptics on the effort to save our kids.

over a year ago by European too

'the world has actually cooled in the last 8 years' - another line that gets wheeled out in any climate change debate. 2010 was hotter than 2003 , but 1998 was hotter than 2008 so is the world warming or cooling? All these years are among the hottest on record, in fact the last two decades has produced 18 out 20 of the hottest years since records begain in 1850. A scientist does not use a peak year like 2003 as a baseline and climate is measure in decades or centuries at the least, not over a period of 8 years. This is why it is better to listen to the overwhelming majority of climate scientists instead of Alan Jones.

'carbon dioxode is not a pollutant' - this one always makes me laugh, its the same as the classic 'we breath out carbon dioxide so how can it be bad?'. I wish the people that bring this up would actually go and breath 100% carbon dioxide for a few minutes to test how 'polluted' they become :)

over a year ago by Phil

Boys and Girls,

Reality is...planet might be warming up but does anyone really, really know WHY is it warming up?

It could simply be a cycle in the evolution which cannot be avoided no matter what we try and how hard we try. And politicians to use this excuse to place a figure on carbon...I am failing to understand how in the name of ZEUS will any carbon tax save the planet or The Great Barrier Reef, especially if we are talking about an evolution cycle! How will the tax prevent big Companies from producing carbon as big Companies won't really care. They'll simply pass the cost onto the consumers. I use to remember Melbourne being a HOT city. Summers now hardly get many nice, hot days like we use to.

Do we really think big Companies will cop the extra tax without passing it onto us, the consumers?

Do we really think the big Companies will invest their own money and come up with a "greener" solution to manufacture goods?

Do we really think big Companies will reduce the amount of carbon knowing the consumers are the ones that will cop it at the end of the day?

I am as of the opinion that all the big Companies will pass the cost onto the consumers, reduce the number of staff, move portion of their business or the whole lot overseas and Australia will be left in a mess. People out of work, no money for bills, no money for food.

Bills, food, manufacturing have gone up across the board. We should be focusing on a current solution rather than introducing and creating another problem where the rest of the world is in a financial crisis as it is. Australia may have passed the god part of the GFC but will any politician guarantee that it won't happen here due to the extra tax?

Labor Government is in crisis! Without this tax they won't even come near the surplus that they are thinking of achieving. Even this extra TAX that they get, they'll spend it on something silly.

Think it's time that we have a new breed of politicians who actually CARE about this Country and not filling up someone's pockets through our own sweat! And since some people don't seem to have a problem being sheep and giving money away...hey, I need some too. I want to save the planet! So please, give me some too! I won't say NO!

over a year ago by Rade

By the way, just to add to my previous message...

I would like someone to explain to me, how are WE saving a planet when Australian produces 1% of carbon in the world???

How will even that whole 1% save the planet exactly???

How will that save The Great Barrier Reef lets say???

Until the rest of the world decides to do something about it, again I state, the consumers will be copping the tax and it will be for absolutely nothing! So instead of giving it to the Government time after time and that money being wasted on god knows what...why don't you give me some. At least you'll know who you gave your money too. :)

over a year ago by Rade

Thanks for a balanced article that avoids all the hysteria around this tax. In the comments, it amazes me how some stupid and ignorant people think they know better than scientific professionals on this. The scientists are one. It's only a few ratbags on the periphery who make all the noise that put doubt in people's minds. We must a pay a small price, even just as a token gesture. It's better than doing nothing.

over a year ago by Graeme

@Phil: since records began in 1850?? So, suddenly the earth's climate is operating in cycles of less than 100 years? How are any of us to know that it doesn't operate in overall cycles of thousands of years? The earth has gone through multiple ice ages and warming cycles all before humans were pumping large amounts of CO2, ozone and every other gas into the atmosphere. So what makes you think that humans are to blame?
@Graeme: over 30,000 scientists in the USA have signed a petition that states that MMGW is a myth. The scientists are one?? That's straight out of an Al Gore feature film. The scientists are NOT one, climate change, its causes and potential ramifications have NOT be resolved, therefore our economy should not be hobbled against overseas competition over some scientific hypotheses that are shaky at best.
The simple point is this: Gillard does NOT have a mandate to introduce a carbon tax, in fact she has a mandate NOT to, because she went to the election stating that there would be no carbon tax under a government that she lead. If she had been honest with Australia and said that she would introduce a carbon tax and was subsequently elected, then she'd have a mandate from the Australian people to do so. Fact is, she didn't, she doesn't and she shouldn't.

over a year ago by John

I am rather saddened to read so much of 'fiction’ masquerading as facts in the comments above. The general (more than 90%) of Scientists, including Environmental Scientists have concurred that the Globe is warming due largely to 'green house gases'. There are, of course bogus scientists, including Monckton, who want to embroil themselves in contradiction for the PUBLICITY that comes along with being radical. Some people will sell their mothers for a bit of publicity!! What is sadly happening in Australia is the fact that 'Global warming' has become a political agenda to win power. I have read widely about this global warming trend (being in the Science arena) and truly believe that we need to do something to minimise and gradually diminish our emissions to a more sustainable level.

The Murdoch saga has awakened more people to wondering how much of media 'under-hand' tactics is couched as 'real news' and 'polls' in our land. Worrying times! Is this why we are having a tough time with our “Carbon tax” agenda? Who cares if our insatiable greed to plunder and exploit Earth results in a hostile and inhabitable planet for our future generations! As long as controversy sells and we can make an extra dollar, even at the cost of our future, politicians will continue to exploit our ignorance for their power game. Are we so intoxicated with the dollar sign that we have lost sight of the future? Has capitalism gone mad? Where are you Turmbull? Come save us all from this political & environmental fiasco.

over a year ago by Jolly

It is simply another way in which the government claws back money to repay its huge deficit. They haven't got the brains to manage it as we have all seen in their ridiculous handouts - insulation scheme, school building scheme etc etc. Now they intend to tax Self Managed Super Funds. They are a desperate and incompetent goverment.

over a year ago by Jennifer

Goodonya Jolly and the many other sane Aussies and a special Thanks to SC for this independent eye-opening article.
Am surprised no one has said SC is Labour biased!??
All I can say is fellow Aussies - stand on your own 2 feet and think for your self - take time to read and then pass your verdict.
Labour has been a failure in selling this just as the many others.
I don't care whether it is the Liberal, Greens or Labour behind this move to limit the carbon emissions - all I know for a "fact" is that we need get off our backs and do the responsible right thing to reduce pollution! - ACT now!!
To all the critics of this CT, if your neighbor starts throwing garbage in your laneway - will you follow suit too??
And for those who keep beating China and India - please go and read the many carbon reduction priorities and projects they have and are implementing!
And Oh yes!! Julia is a Juliar - I agree with you and I bet she will be rewarded likewise at the next hastings, however let's take a pause and think!

We are talking of honesty amongst Politicians?? huh??? are we so mad??? Name One honest Politician!!
We make Johny Howard shine by saying he took GST to the hastings - wow!! Hands up Who has forgotten the "children being thrown overboard affair" when the so called honest Johny beat up Xenophobia and won the hastings inspite of the Navy commander declaring under oath that there were "No' children thrown overboard fullstop!!
And then hands up who has forgotten Bush using "Weapons of Mass Destruction" in Iraq as a pretext of dragging the entire western world into his personal war for which we Aussies have and are still paying in sweat and blood!!

So my fellow Aussies think again when you wana go on about Juliar!!

The carbon Tax is Not our National problem it is the Toxic Tony who is!!

I can't wait for Turnbull to stand-up and tell the monk to shut up once and for all on this topic! He has my vote at the next elections!!

over a year ago by Yaz1

@John: answers to your questions:

'since receords began????' - yes I literally meant since records began because, well, thats when records of yearly global temperatures began....:) To see how global temperatures have varied over longer periods I believe climate scientists largely use ice core samples to show trends over many thousands of years. I'm not sure whether you are being deliberately obtuse but obviously climatologists do look at long tern trends over thousands of years and from their study the OVERWHELMING MAJORITY have concluded that man made climate change is happening.

I can answer your question to Graeme also because thats another line I've heard from skeptics who are looking for facts to suport an agenda rather than the other way round (which is yet again another reason why we should listen to the CLIMATE SCIENTISTS) - 'over 30,000 scientists have signed a petition that says man-made global warming is a myth'. I think if anyone does some imparial reading into this petition you will find it is propaganda from a group who have tried and failed with a similar scheme before but even if you assume the petition is being honest, it states itself that OF THOSE 30,000 ONLY 152 ARE ACTUALLY CLIMATE SCIENTISTS. The petition does not provide a way to qualify those 152, conveniently fogetting to put the area of expertise against any given name. It does say that less than a third of signatories have PhDs. Given that career scientist's start their career with a PhD I'm not sure where the other 20,000 are coming from - maybe they have an Honours degree in Chemistry and now sit on the board of directors for Shell. Only kidding - Shell doesnt have 20,000 board members :)

Your point about Gillard not having a mandate is well made though. I only wish Turnbull would take back the liberal party so I can go to the next election voting for my party of choice AND feel that the RIGHT choice is being made WRT managing carbon emissions.

over a year ago by Phil

@Rade:

'I would like someone to explain to me, how are WE saving a planet when Australian produces 1% of carbon in the world??? How will even that whole 1% save the planet exactly??? How will that save The Great Barrier Reef lets say???'

There isnt any one country that can 'save the planet' Rade, it will take a concerted effort to reduce carbon emissions and given Australia's growing status as the middle man between asia and the western world, I believe its critical that we can demonstrate action on climate change.

1% doesnt sound like alot does it? yet we are the 15th highest emitting country, emitting more than France, Brazil, Argentina and many other countries with much larger populations. Thats because we are the 8th highest emitter per head. If all the countries that contribute 1% or less reduced their emissions, we'd a long way to solving the problem.

Besides this whole 'we only produce 1% so why give a stuff' frankly just makes us sound tight and selfish. In any global crisis if each country says we aren't doing anything until so and so does something, then we are in trouble - we should certainly do our share even it is 1%.

over a year ago by Phil

Thanks Phil,

we need a growing number of Australians to speak up and clear up this ill-informed, politically motivated Negative Campaign about the CT.

over a year ago by Yaz1

If anyone understands what CO2 is, they will realise that in this world, plants respond tremendously to an increase in levels of CO2 producing a lot more food for human consumption than they would at a lower level. This inturn can provide a far better environment for the occupiers of this planet and even feed the hungry. The problem in the world today is not the increase in CO2 but an increase in the toxins used to create products and, toxins like chemical sprays used to protect our food production from parasitic invaders both in the grain and meat industry. If the carbon tax is to be used to rebut the pollution, then I think we all would be for it however, the false issue of the world being effected by the increase in CO2 should not be supported as it will not improve the planet to implement this nonsense.

The truth is that too much money is being made from our implemented systems which ravage and pollute our planet without giving back to it. CO2 is not a pollutant nor does it increase our global temperature. We have all become accustomed to a lifestyle of ease so to speak jeopardising our and our childrens future. We all use motorised transport which create toxins of which none are CO2. We are all guilty of living in this culture, wish to feel like we are not to blame directly so blame the obvious on something that is good and not the real issue. Not many people persue the truth do they? Instead they choose that which will promote their own selfish agenda whether political or personal. Motives are a very big issue when hearing any person talk. Consider this; a tree is known by its fruit. A good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears bad. Same with a persons words or actions.

In this light, of the world becoming uninhabitable, we need to realise we are all guilty and a tax will not right the wrong. We have had inventions which would stop the use for fossil fuels in the generation of power and use of transportation. They have not been allowed to be used as the belief is it would drastically affect the worlds economy. We have become greed based, lust based and parasitic in our dealings with one another looking for some reason of existence in this world believing it to be personal pleasure and
happiness. Putting the blame on CO2 instead of the real issue is typical of an alterior motive. Don’t be deceived. What is this really all about? I believe it is not about what it says it’s about.

over a year ago by TJ

@TJ: 'the false issue of the world being effected by the increase in CO2 should not be supported as it will not improve the planet to implement this nonsense.'

'CO2 is not a pollutant nor does it increase our global temperature'

The greenhouse effect is well established, has many decades of experimentation and data behind it and is even provable in a high-school lab. CO2 is a greenhouse gas and more of it in our atmosphere does indeed increase global temperature.

over a year ago by Phil

The sky is falling! The sky is falling say’s Big Al Gore. To all the believers in climate change. Guess what! Our climate is constantly changing. Sure, but man made??
I’m sure Al Gore is taking his C02 emissions into consideration when he boards his private jet. Lights up his big mansion, big pool and big car. What a hypocrite.

To all the hypocrites. If you believe that we humans are affecting the climate. Then sell your cars and ride a bike. Turn off your heaters and hug a dog and use you blanket to keep warm. Turn of your computers and all the appliances you rely on and save the planet.
Yes, I agree we should reduce consumption of fossil fuels. We should look after our environment. New technology should be used to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. But don’t peddle this crap that the globe is warming due to Co2 emissions.
My apprentice carpenter was forced to watch Al Gore’s fictional movie on global warming during one of his OH&S classes. What the heck has global warming got to do with OH&S! This crap is being taught, sorry shoved down our throats as a truth. God forbid if you are a sceptic. It’s the Murdoch press, their to blame for all this scepticism aren’t they!
Yes I am a sceptic in manmade global warming and no my head is not in the sand. I do not trust this incompetent government to implement a carbon tax that will ultimately have no affect on global warming and will do nothing to reduce the earth’s temperature.

Answer me this question, all you believers. By how much will the earth’s temperature be reduced by Australia’s implementation of a carbon tax??
Even Tim Flannery was quoted, if we all stopped our emissions today, there would be no effect in reduced temperature for possibly a thousand years.
All pain and no gain.

over a year ago by serge

Great article. People seem to think the tiny few who oppose the mainstream scientific view held by every single scientific body world wide are to be taken seriously. The reality is for every 2 scientists who are even losely related to the correct sciences required who preach that climate change isn't real and we're not causing any damage there are 97 other's who agree that we are. Denalist propaganda is almost dogmatic in it's preaching.

To put it into perspective. If 97 doctors told me I had cancer and two said 'oh, it's probably nothing, just ignore it' I think I would right now be getting treated for cancer.

over a year ago by Charlie

The smart tradies will get ahead once the carbon tax is intruduced, the stupid tradies will think they are victims and lie down and die... It's that simple. The mining companies, while they are fighting the tax, have already started to put systems in place and to think of how they can work with the tax to best advantage them. They are not going to miss a penny, and tradies will not miss a penny either if they act early and don't get caught up in the "I'm a victim" rubbish. It comes down to social responsibility and people need to realise that they are not the last generation to enjoy and use this earth, keep your great-grandchildren in mind! Again, the stupid tradies will lie down and die... the smart tradies will work with it and get ahead of the rest.

over a year ago by AC

Its an important and necessary tax, and the families have been well compensated. I am not sure why people ignore this - I guess they are ill-informed or want to continue banging on about something. It takes and enormous amount of conviction to introduce something so important for our future when it is so (unjustly) unpopular so congrats to them. What is right is not always what is popular. Our kids will thank us and I am proud to support it. If your business or your purchases involve putting carbon into the atmosphere - then so you should pay.

over a year ago by Aleisha

Does the world have to come to an end for us to do the right thing? Isn't it just right to preserve this Earth as we found it for our children's children? Isn't it the right thing to do to search for more innovative products that are less resources hungry? As my mum would say:"Would you jump out of the bridge just because others are doing so?" Unfortunately the human brain will always try to conserve its own energy and will need an extraneous source to push it to its limits. We need a government to lead those initiatives because no isolated group will have the resources and enforcement powers to do so. Good or bad, it is something. I'm glad that we live in a country that is doing what is right, regardless of what others are doing. We live in a era of instant gratification. In this case, we will have to defer gratification to our descendants.

over a year ago by Adriana

if the major companies are passing the loss down to the trades then why would they have to invest money into finding a greener option. the little men in the construction industry will be hit the hardest!

over a year ago by luke

OUR NEED FOR A CARBON TAX IS A SYMPTOM OF A BIGGER ISSUE

Failing to grasp our use of finite resources is lost in the 'fear' about the Carbon Tax.

Our real denial as a society is about population growth and the incessant need to grow every year. Taxes to prevent overuse of resources and resulting damage to our environment would not be necessary if started with we restricting population growth in Australia.

April 2nd 2012 - Our government announced the introduction of cooperative measures to assist linking Australian employers with skilled workers in the US to fill skill shortages in key sectors. We will now begin to import workers from the US to feed this needed growth! Needing more housing, more schools, more roads, more water, the weasel word is "more infrastructure". It does not matter which government we have, this policy of importing workers will not be opposed by any neo-liberals of any party. Growth is seen as our panacea, the solution to all. So the need for a Carbon Tax is not the problem, because it is just a symptom we are out of balance as humans.

The sad issue is the momentum we have generated going the wrong way, believing we have takes courage to face those with vested interest in the status quo. We all need to change our outlook on growth, the sooner the better as politicians mimic popular opinion.

Don't trust my argument? Stretch your worldview, start with this source and make up your own mind.

http://albartlett.org/presentations/bartlett_presentations.html

over a year ago by Paul

Our stupid legislators have overlooked the fact that the major polluters can view the tax as a fine, pass the cost on to the consumer, and carry on as before. RESULT:- No reduction in pollution but financial devastation evrywhere. Thankyou JuLIAR

11 months ago by Tom

No matter what hardships the carbon tax presents, we need to realise it is the way of future and the way the world is heading. We need to embrace it and its purpose and get ahead of the game to be a world leader in carbon pollution reduction. If we don't, we risk falling further behind and will be at a greater economic disadvantage later. I thought Australia was supposed to be a country of forward thinkers. So lets get real, stop whinging, get behind it and make it work.

11 months ago by Mark

The government has stated that it does not know what if any effect this tax will have on Australia's emissions. Scientists the world over cannot agree if there is in fact significant change to the world's weather patterns. The government has stated that a percentage of money raised will go into green reforms but cannot state what percentage. Can anybody in favour of this tax grab explain to me in simple words what this tax will do for my country,my standard of living and what difference this will make to the Australian environment. Please just a few simple words not spin.
Prices have already begun to rise and the tax is already being collected so when do i see a difference?

11 months ago by Greg

@AC,smart tradies, stupid tradies. Let me tell you my friend. Right now the building industry is on it's knee's. Smart and stupid tradies alike. The labour government has created and environment of uncertainty. Stupid?
The carbon tax will do nothing for our environment. That's a fact.
All we are going to to is send our jobs over sea's and the carbon will be emitted there. Stupid tradies? How about stupid pollies!

11 months ago by Serge