My Letter to W.A. Newspapers: Expat climate disbelief

As an expat Aussie living in France and watching the climate debate in Canberra, it is with a sense of shame and disbelief to watch the Labour and Liberal parties obscure the real issues of climate change. Prime minister Rudd’s concessions to the Liberal party climate deniers is simply enormous corporate welfare of $5.8 billion to be paid by taxpayers to keep the coal industry polluting. An emissions trading scheme is just permission to pollute by industries who’s era is over. Europe has already demonstrated how ineffective an ETS is at reducing carbon, while leading to spiking electricity costs. Australia needs a flat carbon fee that is not able to be manipulated, to properly reflect the cost the country and our children will continue to pay into the future.

As an expat Aussie living in France and watching the climate debate in Canberra, it is with a sense of shame and disbelief to watch the Labour and Liberal parties obscure the real issues of climate change. Prime minister Rudd’s concessions to the Liberal party climate deniers is simply enormous corporate welfare of $5.8 billion to be paid by taxpayers to keep the coal industry polluting. An emissions trading scheme is just permission to pollute by industries who’s era is over. Europe has already demonstrated how ineffective an ETS is at reducing carbon, while leading to spiking electricity costs. Australia needs a flat carbon fee that is not able to be manipulated, to properly reflect the cost the country and our children will continue to pay into the future.

Sent to The West Australian newspaper.