tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post6860420505819496286..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: Would an emissions trading scheme have helped the Abbott government handle the renewable energy target mess?Jim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-21155088366487675202014-09-07T07:35:44.857+10:002014-09-07T07:35:44.857+10:00Interesting point on the incomplete disregard for ...Interesting point on the incomplete disregard for promises, 2 tanners.<br /><br />This morning's (Sunday) papers suggest that a compromise will be worked out on the RET.<br /><br />On the political front, it's still to early to make any call on the next election. On the policy front, its all very messy at the moment.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-16307751279502141882014-09-06T21:59:15.303+10:002014-09-06T21:59:15.303+10:00It makes sense if you see they are governing in co...It makes sense if you see they are governing in corporate interests<br />finance industry<br />mining industry<br />existing energy companiesEvanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13355215688351759230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-56700013475716523762014-09-06T20:52:37.379+10:002014-09-06T20:52:37.379+10:00Jim,
I think the basic area where Mr Abbott has m...Jim,<br /><br />I think the basic area where Mr Abbott has miscalculated is that he ha shown an <b>incomplete</b> disregard for campaign promises. I don't think it's clear to anyone why he chooses to honour some and flagrantly disregard others. Who honestly cuts benefits and reduces other spending citing a budget disaster, but then gets rid of successful revenue measures and reduces the general rate of corporate taxation?<br /><br />Unlike some commentators, I am not suggesting a right-wing zealot/culture warrior/slave-to-mining-interests poltician or any similar cardboard cutout characterisation. I am agreeing that he seems very out of touch with what the majority of Australians want and he has a lot of rebuilding to do if he wishes to regain trust and give people a sense of security that his word is his bond. It smacks of Keating-level arrogance without the clear message that Keating had of his agenda.<br /><br />Finally, he seems to have gained the cancellation of the mining tax at the expense of Australian supperannuants, the perception of more broken promises, the failure to pass some of the spending offsets and the reinforcement of Clive Palmer's image as the real controller of Canberra.<br /><br />Now, with Clive having publicly opposed RET changes, Mr Abbott will either have to cut a deal sufficiently attractive to make Clive back down for the first time, or chalk up yet another loss. I can't see a win for him in any of these outcomes.2 tannersnoreply@blogger.com