Even the Mighty Can Believe!

     BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers announced today that he favoured moving to a carbon tax regime as a means of placing a price on carbon. His announcement caused much consternation in both business and political circles, although it was supported by Professor Ross Garnaut. Some, however preferred the ostrich approach!


The Abbott frowned, then shook his head,

"What is that man doing?

He's sprouting forth about a carbon tax,

His reasoning suspect and seriously lax!"

The Abbott just sat there spewing!

King Brown perked up and looked around,

"I can't believe what I'm just hearing!

The BHP head is a greenie at heart

With a price on carbon he wants, now, to start!"

And King Brown commenced some stirring.

The Great Debate - Done and Dusted

So, the great debate is finished

And, perhaps, we're not quite so diminished

For having viewed and quietly listened

To the Leaders, newly christened,

In the tradition of election-time debate.

Of course, adjudicators must surely comment

And words will flow a-torrent,

Midst the muddle and confusion all about;

Whilst we, quite humble, beset with raging doubt,

Raise a glass and humbly stumble, toward our fate!

A Clunker Of An Idea

ABC News reports that Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, today announced plans to pay cash as an incentive for people to get rid of their old vehicles.

When making the announcement in Brisbane, Ms Gillard commented that "People will go to their car dealership they will negotiate, get the price that they can get for their new car, their rebate will be paid when their old car is scrapped," she said.

"The dealer will be responsible for doing that. We will have Aus Industry oversighting this."

They used to be called "rust buckets",

Now "clunker" is their name

And they are now, to one and all,

The new weapon in the climate game!

"If we get these clunkers off the road

And replaced with something new,

We'll reduce our carbon by huge amounts

(And boost new car sales, too!)."

And so, thus led by those without conviction,

We shuffle off toward extinction.

Gillard Climate Policy - Policy Free Zone

Prime Minister Gillard today announced her climate change policy for the forthcoming election.  I thought we were having an election to appoint our decision makers.  Now we add on an unelected committee of eager beavers to make "claytons" decisions our Parliament is to gutless to make.  Whoopee!
The Battler recommends this link as food for thought http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/23/2962335.htm

A committee! That's what we'll do.
One hundred & fifty of our brave and true
Who will have twelve months to find an answer,
To come to grips with that carbon cancer.

Naturally, they'll report and recommend
While we, in Parliament, consider, then send
Our response to be reviewed
By "experts", with expertise imbued!

The people, shocked, in horror cried
And the world did nothing, while nature died!

A Miner's Dream

On the ABC's Lateline program in the late evening of July 7, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that she will not revive the government's Emission Trading Scheme until at least 2013. See http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/08/2947643.htm?section=justin

The previous week, she had announced changes to a proposed new mining tax http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/02/2942840.htm


"Hey, Miner-Mates,
Get yerselves over here!
Boy, do I have a new tax for you."

"Oi! Prime Minister,
Do you think we're queer?
No new tax for us; what we have will do!"

"Now there, fellers
Don't be a mug!
My new tax plan you'll think is grand.
The answer is simple.
No, now don't stand and shrug!
Its a little trick called slight-of-hand."

So, with cut and paste she ducked and weaved,
A new mining tax designed to deceive,
With cut-a-bit here and tuck-a-bit there,
"Ah yes, this new tax is fare."

"OK, Miner-Mates, now listen up,
At this new plate I'll think you'll sup.
I've trimmed a little and changed the name,
But here's the important piece of the game.
You remember Kevin's old ETS,
The one that became a bit of a mess?
Well, here I grant you a miner's dream
No carbon price 'till 2013!"

Laurie Favelle, Canberra, 8 July 2010