Abbott 'deceitful' on carbon tax: Combet.   

    by: Joe Kelly
    From: The Australian
    June 10, 2012


Greg Combet

Climate Change minister Greg Combet says forecast impact of the carbon tax would be less than expected, because modelling could not replace real world experience.

GREG Combet will hold Tony Abbott to account after the carbon tax implementation, should the Opposition leader's predictions of economic catastrophe not eventuate.   

Mr Combet said the average carbon price in the trade exposed emissions intensive sectors of the economy was only $1.30 a tonne, once government assistance had been factored in.

Attacking Mr Abbott's fear campaign against the carbon tax as "gutless" and "deceitful", Mr Combet said his predictions of economic catastrophe would not eventuate.

"I'm looking forward to post July 1," he said. "Because we're going to take it right up to Tony Abbott and hold him to account for every lie and piece of deceit and every bit of misrepresentation he's engaged in."   

Mr Combet said that the fundamentals of the economy were strong enough to justify the introduction of a carbon price and that millions of households would be better off under the government's compensation package.
The most influential people in Sport


The introduction of a carbon price was a fundamental "question of belief" for the Labor party, with Mr Combet suggesting the party should not walk away from the reform in opposition.

"You run into problems when you walk away from what you stand for," he said.

Mr Combet acknowledged that the government had a "lot of work to do" in arguing its case for the carbon price before the next election, but expected to win over the electorate through the force of its case.

"We plan on winning the next election," he said. "Argue to the community, tell them the facts, argue what you're standing for and bring them along, explain the values that underpin it, why you're doing it - and you can win support."   

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he's being realistic, not gloomy, in talking down the economy.

This week delivered a trifecta of good economic news: the national accounts showed the economy speeding along at an annual rate of 4.3 per cent; the biggest monthly jump in full-time employment in 18 months; and a 25-basis-point cash rate cut.

But Mr Abbott denies he is talking down the economy unnecessarily.

"I think I've been absolutely realistic,'' Mr Abbott told the Ten Network.

He said the Opposition was right to pan the carbon and mining taxes.

"Australia's relative economic strength owes far more to the reforms of previous government than it does to the spending spree of the current one,'' he said.

Mr Abbott said the Reserve Bank was not super optimistic otherwise it would not have cut the official cash rate.

Yes good on you Mr Combet.  We have got Mr Abbott running around saying the sky will fall in.  He should certainly be held to account for his scare tactics.            

GREG Combet will hold Tony Abbott to account after the carbon tax implementation, should the Opposition leader's predictions of economic catastrophe not eventuate.          

The Greens and the ALP will be held to account for 30 years of treason against the people of Australia and selling out our country by stealth to international banks and and world Government.  You are finished in Australia ALP and Greens and so are your policies.  We will hold Abbott to account to repeal the treasonous policies to cede our nation to global Government through climate change and privatization and we will hold him to account to crack down on you.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jun 10^th, 2012 at 6:43pm:


100% of what you posted is irrelevant.

Gist wrote on Jun 10^th, 2012 at 6:47pm:


Between 57% and 63% of people would 100% disagree with you on that...

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jun 10^th, 2012 at 7:24pm:



57% believed chicken little - till the sky didn't fall?

longweekend58 wrote on Jun 10^th, 2012 at 7:50pm:



I think I understand In your definition of a  democracy the sky did fall and chicken little was right?