In all seriousness and not wanting to start a state versus state war, I think that WA is being profoundly dumb when it comes to energy.
What's going to happen a not long from now when ALL the coal and gas has been locked up under export contracts and there's literally none available for local use? Then 30 years later when the whole lot is physically gone and production ceases?
What is the long term plan for WA? With the fuel being shipped offshore at an ever increasing rate, plus increasing reliance on desal for water supply, they'd better hope that solar, wind etc is a goer otherwise they're completely stuffed.
WA residents ought to be asking the state's leaders some damn hard questions about the long term future in my opinion.
Yes smurph, it sounds like a monumental stuff up. The State owned generation company couldn't come to an agreement on pricing with Wesfarmers. Sounds like a game of bluff that the generation company lost.
Maybe the WA government should charge royalties in kind on its coal production. The tonnage and hence the royalty rate would be set at the state's coal needs. They can then on-sell to the energy producers or other coal consumers at the commercial rate.
The bottom line is that WA has effectively locked itself into "importing" its' entire energy supply despite having massive reserves of gas, and substantial reserves of coal and oil.State premier Barnett nearly had a heart attack when told the news of the remaining mine falling into foreign ownership its really a complete shambles as the security of our energy supplies falls into India / Chinese hands.
Beyond the vibe, the policy most cited in support of the radical Labor-Greens alliance proposition is carbon pricing. According to this "gotcha" argument, Labor would not have put a price on carbon if it hadn't been forced into it by the Greens. Though Julia Gillard did rule out a carbon tax before the last election, she explicitly kept on the table the pricing of carbon through a market-based emissions trading scheme.
The Prime Minister has conceded she changed her position, opting for the three-year variant in light of the post-election composition of the parliament. But fixing a carbon price for three years instead of one is hardly the hallmark of a radical green-left policy, especially when the Malcolm Turnbull-led Coalition supported Labor's ETS with a one-year fixed price. John Howard took a similar scheme to the 2007 election.
JULIA Gillard will pursue a carbon price if she wins the next election, but only after a "community consensus" is established for action on climate change.
This qualification sparked concerns from green groups that the new Prime Minister's words were "code for inaction".
Ms Gillard, in her first press conference as Prime Minister, said she believed in climate change and expressed disappointment that Australia did not have a price on carbon.
"And in the future we need one. But first we will need to establish a community consensus for action," Ms Gillard said.
The Prime Minister said she had been a participant in the decision to delay the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, which contributed to Kevin Rudd's plunge in the polls, and did not seek to diminish her role in making that decision.
"I came to that decision because I fundamentally believe that if you are going to restructure our economy so that we can deal with a carbon price and deal with all the transformations in our economy that requires, then you need community consensus to do so," she said.
Ms Gillard said there was not a community consensus about establishing a carbon price.
But she committed to "pursue that argument for change as vigorously as I can and as long as I need to, to see the establishment of that community consensus".
Perhaps they will belatedly when they lose their seats at the next election.Labor MPs are hugging and ecstatic over their "win" against the majority of voters - one wonders if they ever give any thought to the electorates they are supposed to represent?
Perhaps they will belatedly when they lose their seats at the next election.
By then, as you suggest, Sails, the implementation of the tax is unlikely to be smooth sailing, and the electorate's disgust will be many times multiplied.
It's a very depressing day.
As the Labeens introduce a carbon tax in Australia to "apparently" address the "supposed" anthropomorphic warming of this planet, this very same country not only continues, but increases exports of the same "supposed" contributors to countries that have increasing demand for such energy source.So I ask you, will the Australia voter be fooled again.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh apparently knows something we don't. She says the Carbon Tax will save the Barrier Reef.
The kiss of death for Julia Gillard ?Carbon Tax bill passed. A day that will live in Infamy.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh apparently knows something we don't. She says the Carbon Tax will save the Barrier Reef.
In Mossman the cane is grown on sand in many places. The shells and bits are still there from hundred of years ago. This sand is about 5 to 7 metres above high tide level.
So the big tide must have went out one day a long time ago.
A marine expert from AIMS was on a panel the other day, (it might have been Bolts), and he said the water has become a lot shallower on top of the Barrier reep and it can handle it. He also said there will be an explosive growth of coral from New Guinea to the Great barrier Reef in years to come.
Anna Bligh knows and understands " jack s**t " about the climate and the reefs. She has been told to "stand at attention" or she will not get economic help from Gillard.
Go to AIMS and they will tell you the truth. I have worked with AIMS in building a prawn farm near Port Douglas. They researched the mangroves, compiled an impact study etc. etc. for us. People should go visit.
I have not seen one of these scientists on any panel compiled by the government.
AIMS .. Australian Institute of Marine Science. Its south of Townsville.
The carbon tax will save nothing but the "Labor Party" as it is their source of income to get them to the next 2012/2013 election. They are broke as is some of the states.(QLD)
joea
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