Coalition
The ALP and the Coalition are boxed into a costly corner with regard to emissions reductions targets, and soon we'll have to decide whether we really want to reduce emissions or just pay other countries to do so.
There is good reason the Coalition has been scant on details regarding its Direct Action plan: it is constructed on the premise of bogus soil carbon offsets.
The Coalition's climate spokesman says the federal government is coming undone over its carbon price policy, and that the US is unlikely to adopt a carbon tax or cap-and-trade scheme any time before 2020.
The growing power of Conservative politics has resulted in a seamless transition from incompetence to bloody-mindedness towards green energy. Silex solar cells is an early victim.
Joe Hockey appears to be following Malcolm Turnbull in positioning for future leadership of the Liberals, but he would be wise to remain neutral on the carbon tax.
Labor's carbon tax, while confusing and hugely compromised, is cheaper than the dubious Coalition policy. But Julia Gillard might struggle to sell that message prior to the next election.
Tony Abbott needs to come clean. The pledge to repeal the carbon price is the politics of climate denialism dressed up as populism. It might be opportunistic, but it's bad for business.
Note to our elected officials – you already have a mandate to act on climate change. So where's our carbon price?
Australia must find a plan B for reducing carbon emissions, because when Labor loses the next election, we won’t have a carbon price to fall back on.