Some more thoughts to ponder on the vexed subject of the Carbon Tax. Quote from the recent HOUSING magazine put out by the Housing Industry Association.
"...A Carbon Tax will increase the cost of building a house, cost jobs in building and manufacturing, and send emissions overseas...The Australian Trade & Industry Alliance considers that a carbon pricing scheme that fails to preserve the international competitiveness of Australia's export and import-competing industries in the absence of corresponding international action will cost jobs, investment and increase the cost of living of all Australians.
Australia produces less than 1.5% of the world's global emissions yet the carbon tax is set to be the world's biggest. The European Union (EU) has had a price on carbon since 2002, which during its first six and a half years, generated $4.9 billion in tax. Over the same timeframe Australia's carbon tax will collect an estimated $70 billion.
However, by 2020 China will take just over 78 hours to produce as much CO2 as Australia is projected to save from now until then.
That is why the Alliance is trying to get the message out that the Carbon Tax is all pain for the Australian economy with no climate change gain...
The success of GreenSmart is that it is a market driven program, where builders, suppliers and consumers recognise the benefits from innovation and action on the environment, without the heavy handedness of additional regulation or taxes.
Combined with the mandatory energy efficiency star rating for new homes and renovations, the housing industry is making a significant contribution to improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouses gases...
