Tony Abbott surely knows someone upstairs likes him - a lot. While the former Catholic seminary student turned politician is struggling in the polls and with his recent recovery now stalled, the ALP has gifted the Federal Liberals the keys to the Lodge (should it ever be finished) and the treasury benches for another term.

In a decision that has left commentators gobsmacked, the ALP has formulated a draft policy to reintroduce the Carbon Tax, a policy that was despised by the majority of Australians and dogged the Gillard Government from day one until its inevitable landslide demise. The tax wasn't merely unpopular and unwanted, it was introduced after strident and repeated promises to not bring it in. It is the singular policy that brought down the Gillard Government which after the horrors of the Rudd leadership showed signs of competence. But the lie surrounding the Carbon Tax was the death knell to the Labor party and its doom was signed the same day the bill was passed.

John Howard's Liberals were put to the sword in 2007 over WorkChoices, a policy that had no mandate and was arguably in opposition to the election commitment to make no substantial changes to industrial legislation.  Possessing more bravado than brains, the Labor government showed they had learned nothing from John Howard's demise and introduced a hated policy in direct opposition to their stated promises. The Carbon Tax was the final nail in the coffin of a government already with one foot in the grave.

Somehow though, the notion of each party having to endure their own self-inflicted political suicide makes some sense. Many lessons can only be learned through personal experience. What doesn't make sense however, is to do it all over again as the Shorten-led Labor Opposition seems intent on doing.  The Liberals have buried WorkChoices having learned from that mistake, but the ALP seems intent on ensuring the Titanic can sink yet again.

Bill Shorten has impressed no one with his political nous or tactical skill and this mistake is simply the latest in a long list.  Labor has lumbered from one faux pas to another and this is the mother of all of them. The utter stupidity of even considering a return of the Carbon Tax is an indication that Labor is not yet fit or ready to return to government. Tony Abbott has certainly made his mistakes, but Has learned from them. Labor it seems, has learned nothing.

There is no retreating from this mistake.  Claims that it is just an internal policy document aren't going to wash with voters. Bill Shorten cannot say during the election campaign "There will be no carbon tax under any government I lead".  They will just laugh at him and rightly so.

John Howard's repeated come-from-behind victories prompted one smart alec to suggest that God votes Liberal. While that might have been a joke, it is however apparent that the Devil votes Labor and is currently working in their policy development area.

reprinted with permission

There is nothing really special about a tax on Carbon. It is perfectly saleable as long as it does not increase the overall tax burden. That equates to making it revenue neutral by the complete elimination of other taxes with the revenue generated.

There is a good case to be had for eliminating corporate tax and grossly inefficient taxes like stamp duties. Taxing carbon is relatively efficient and difficult to avoid. Stamp duties just act as a restraint to people doing business with each other.

However, your observation "Bill Shorten has impressed no one with his political nous" is the obvious hurdle.

Bullshitten says that the will be no carbon tax blah blah...

BUT...

there is this little things about an Emissions Trading Scheme...

bugger me... how stupid do they think we are... 

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 15^th, 2015 at 1:46pm:


Yes, I understand that Longy. It requires supreme sales skills and if done correctly could even be beneficial. The impediment is the leader.

crocodile wrote on Jul 15^th, 2015 at 1:52pm:


I'm not sure anyone could sell a policy that has been comprehensively rejected and the subject of a breathtakingly arrogant promise breach.  And that is before you try to seel the actual merits of the policy in dealing with Climate Change which is very much a minority opinion nowadays.

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 15^th, 2015 at 3:16pm:


No one? But Longy, your account of gay incest is superb.

I could not possibly compete with my own essay, but I got Bill Shorten. You got something you have personal experience of, which always helps.

Neferti wrote on Jul 15^th, 2015 at 3:19pm:


You'd have to be the only person who frequents a Forum like this who does not know.  No surprise to me.

Link.

Aussie wrote on Jul 15^th, 2015 at 3:40pm:



those events come and go every couple years and change nothing. They never do.  Who could forget Copenhagen where the dopes gathered to address global warming in the middle of the coldest snap in decades and so much snow that most of the luvvies planes were grounded.

it will be the same in Paris.  Lots of talk, lots of promises, lots of phots and absolutely no agreement on anything other than to come back again and do it all over - at taxpayer expense.