Thursday 31 July 2008

The Libs decide to protect the planet and Nelson acts the fool for Kerry O'Brien

Well now we know, confusion over the Federal Opposition's position on emissions trading is over - because the Liberal Party announced yesterday that it was all about Protecting the Planet:

The Coalition Joint Party Room has today unanimously agreed to key principles in relation to climate change.
We give the planet the benefit of the doubt and support action on climate change. [my emphasis]
We support in principle an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) as part of a three pillars approach to combating climate change:
Clean Energy Policy;
International Pressure; and
An ETS.
The Coalition has deep suspicions about Mr Rudd and his ETS model and we will vigorously scrutinise the Government’s legislation based on:
The detail;
The modelling;
The impact on the cost of living; and
International developments.Australia must be part of a global response to reduce emissions however:
An ETS should commence when it is ready in an orderly, methodical and responsible manner which enjoys the broad support of Australian industry and protects vulnerable Australian households – not before 2011 and probably by 2012;
The design detail of an Australian ETS must be informed by the outcome of the Copenhagen meeting at the end of 2009;
The carbon price must be set at a level that reflects action by the rest of the world; and
If no action is underway – Australia must start an ETS slow, and low on price.
But Mr Rudd and his Government are on notice – the Coalition will not support a flawed Emissions Trading Scheme, nor will we support an ETS too far ahead of the rest of the world.
We will not sign a blank cheque on Australia’s future and will not support a scheme that will disadvantage Australia’s national interest and competitive advantage.
We properly reserve our position on Labor’s legislation until it is before the Parliament.
We will stand up for Australia.

It was almost painful to watch last night's ABC TV 7.30 Report and Brendan Nelson's attempt to put flesh on this announcement while justifying his weakening hold on the Liberal Party leadership.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

...even better hearing Christopher Pine try & squirm his way out of yesterday mornings interview on Radion National & defend his noble leader.

Nice blog you got here btw, put me down as a new reader!