Abbott absurdities on climate change

The Opposition Leader Tony Abbott continues telling brazen untruths about the Gillard Government’s plans for a carbon price.

Claim 1:  “One of the things that people haven’t quite twigged to is that carbon dioxide is invisible, it’s weightless and it’s odourless, how are we going to police these emissions?” (2SM, 7 July 2011).

Fact 1:Australiancorporations have been reporting their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases since July 2008 under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.  When Mr Abbott’s colleague Malcolm Turnbull introduced this legislation to Parliament he said: “The bill I am introducing today lays the foundation for Australia’s emissions trading scheme. Robust data reported under this bill will form the basis of emissions liabilities under emissions trading ...”

Claim 2:“Look, there are many economists who prefer our plan to the Government’s plan.” (Doorstop Interview, 6 July 2011).

Fact 2: Mr Abbott was asked which economists prefer his Direct Action policy to a market mechanism like a carbon price. He was unable to name one.

Claim 3:“I mean, in the end, let’s not forget that this is socialism masquerading as environmentalism”. (Interview on Radio 2SM, 5 July 2011).

Fact 3:A carbon price creates incentives to reduce pollution. This is a market approach which economists say will reduce pollution at the lowest cost to the economy. Mr Abbott’s Direct Action scheme uses government intervention, regulation and subsidies. This is a central planning approach which economists say will be more costly than a market approach.

The Government will announce the details of its carbon price policy this Sunday.

If Mr Abbott continues his campaign of untruths after this announcement I will continue issuing these Bulletins to hold him to account.

It is unacceptable for someone occupying a senior political leadership position to mislead the public in this way.