A GENERATION ago Bob Hawke and Malcolm Fraser were great rivals in Australian politics, formidable leaders who fought with vigour and passion for their principles. Last week both men re-engaged in one of the most pressing contemporary political debates.

But this time around, the former Liberal and Labor prime ministers were on a unity ticket. Mr Fraser joined dozens of prominent individuals and organisations to support tackling climate change by placing a price on carbon pollution. Then Mr Hawke returned to Canberra where he backed Julia Gillard on the carbon price and reminded us that economic prosperity and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive.

Last week we also saw leading economists sign an open letter saying that putting a price on carbon was the cheapest and most efficient way to tackle climate change. And a remarkable grouping of religious leaders from across different faiths and denominations urged the government to press ahead with a carbon price. Behind the scare campaigns, there is now a significant consensus in support of the Gillard government's policy.

The scientific consensus on climate change is clear. It would be irresponsible for a government to ignore the evidence. Climate change poses a significant economic challenge. We need to decouple growth in our economy from growth in pollution.

The best way to do this is though a carbon price. The government's carbon price will create a powerful incentive for large businesses to invest in ways of reducing their pollution. Our region is well placed to benefit from this industrial transformation. Already, the Hunter region is proving it can lead the world in the field of clean energy technology development.

Newcastle is home to the government's $100 million Smart Grid, Smart City project, evidence of our support for improved efficiency in the electricity industry. Newcastle is also home to some of the world's leading research hubs like the Australian Solar Institute, the CSIRO's Energy Centre and the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources within the University.

When a carbon price is introduced the government will use a significant part of the revenue to protect mining and steel jobs and ensure these businesses remain competitive in the international market. The government will also devote at least half the carbon price revenue to assist pensioners and low and middle income households to meet any price impacts.

The remainder will be used to invest in clean energy programs. The Hunter has the opportunity to thrive in this sector, to create jobs and strengthen the local economy. It is time for Tony Abbott to support the government in this important reform.

I think they deserve to be posted on a political forum under a section titled Australian Labor Party, don't you?

Yes, there is lots of press releases there all quite relevant to the current political debate - but for the some unknown reason the mainstream press doesn't report on them. I don't know why that would be. It is their job afterall...unbiased news coverage is what the publice deserves...well, one would have thought anyway.

Of course if it upsets you Soren you don't really have to read it - do you? This section is called "Australian Labor Party " - isn't this sort of thing what it is for?

Soren wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2011 at 12:04am:

Yes, Combet has written a lot of opinion pieces and they are all on his webpage. No need for you to repost them all here. Nobody is reading them.

I just read it! If you don't want to read them, just ignore the thread. Pretty simple really, innit?

Soren wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2011 at 12:04am:

http://www.climatechange.gov.au/en/minister/greg-combet/2011/opinion-pieces.aspx Yes, Combet has written a lot of opinion pieces and they are all on his webpage. No need for you to repost them all here. Nobody is reading them.

You do not see to comment about the people who re post every word of Andrew Bolt or use this forum to re post the Australian, looks like its OK when you agree with the opinion.

Fraser and Hawke have both been better retired PM's then they were PM's.

Though in retrospect it was a much more honest and cleaner period in politics.

Who exactly are you to tell people where and what they should and should not post?
If you do not like it, don't visit. It is that easily fixed.

Soren wrote on Oct 23^rd, 2011 at 10:43am:

Did somebody repost all of Bolt's column, staring a new thread with each?

The only time I stare at Bolt's column is just before I break out in uncontrollable laughter.

Deleting one's posts can cause confusion  :o

Fortunately those posts can still be read in nested quotes  ;D

Dnarever wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2011 at 9:38am:

Fraser and Hawke have both been better retired PM's then they were PM's. Though in retrospect it was a much more honest and cleaner period in politics.

Come on Frazer had a pretty tough time in world economics to deal with and when your treasurer is a lead weight it is hard to make ground. Hawke was great. i never saw him as a political mastermind but he was a great folk leader. I might have rose tinted glasses because i was in my twenties and times were good but we seemed a happier and more content lot with much less.

Gist wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2011 at 8:23am:

Soren wrote on Oct 22nd, 2011 at 12:04am: Yes, Combet has written a lot of opinion pieces and they are all on his webpage. No need for you to repost them all here. Nobody is reading them. I just read it! If you don't want to read them, just ignore the thread. Pretty simple really, innit?

SOREN IS A TRYHARD FASCIST: he feels the inept need to make his demands half heard!

He punishes himself later for their lack of forcefulness no doubt!  ;D

nairbe wrote on Nov 6^th, 2011 at 7:41pm:

Dnarever wrote on Oct 22nd, 2011 at 9:38am: Fraser and Hawke have both been better retired PM's then they were PM's. Though in retrospect it was a much more honest and cleaner period in politics. Come on Frazer had a pretty tough time in world economics to deal with and when your treasurer is a lead weight it is hard to make ground. Hawke was great. i never saw him as a political mastermind but he was a great folk leader. I might have rose tinted glasses because i was in my twenties and times were good but we seemed a happier and more content lot with much less.

As the aborigianls would say, we've all go the 'stuff sickness' now!

 ;D ;D

Seriously, we're all a bunch of nasty Howardite bean counters these days!

Remember this,

http://www.safecom.org.au/images/tandberg_howard_australia.jpg http://www.safecom.org.au/images/tandberg_howard_australia.jpg http://www.safecom.org.au/images/tandberg_howard_australia.jpg http://www.safecom.org.au/images/tandberg_howard_australia.jpg http://www.safecom.org.au/images/tandberg_howard_australia.jpg

...it is true and this is why the Western World is under attack!!

NUCLEAR WEAPONS MEAN WHAT????????

UNBRIDLED GREED died in the fires of 9-11!!

We best be careful going forward methinks!!

 ::)

nairbe wrote on Nov 6^th, 2011 at 7:41pm:

Dnarever wrote on Oct 22nd, 2011 at 9:38am: Fraser and Hawke have both been better retired PM's then they were PM's. Though in retrospect it was a much more honest and cleaner period in politics. Come on Frazer had a pretty tough time in world economics to deal with and when your treasurer is a lead weight it is hard to make ground. Hawke was great. i never saw him as a political mastermind but he was a great folk leader. I might have rose tinted glasses because i was in my twenties and times were good but we seemed a happier and more content lot with much less.

Hawke would have been hopeless without Keating to run the economy for him very similar to how hopeless Howard would have been without Costello to run the show.