Thousands Say Yes to a Lot More Than Carbon Tax

Thousands of people turned out in parks around Australia last weekend to say “yes” to a carbon tax. But for many, the yes went much further.

“We say yes to cutting carbon pollution, yes to a safe climate future for generations to come, yes to hundreds and thousands of greens jobs, yes to progress and yes to moving forward into the 21st century—well and truly,” said Ranya from Western Sydney, one of the young speakers at the Sydney rally, which drew around 8000 people to Prince Alfred’s Park, near Central Station, on Sunday June 5.

The simultaneous rallies, organised by online advocacy group GetUp, were part of a national “Say Yes” advertising campaign that featured, controversially, Australian actors Michael Caton and Cate Blanchett.

Ms Blanchett was attacked by climate sceptics and tabloid media for being wealthy and therefore immune to the pressures a carbon tax would bring.

She responded in Fairfax Media by saying that people were entitled to their own opinions, but she believed everyone would benefit from protecting the environment.

“I can’t look my children in the face if I’m not trying to do something in my small way and to urge other people,” she said.

Sea Level Rise Report

The nationwide rallies came as Australia’s Climate Change Minister Greg Combet released a new report on the potential impact on Australia’s coastline of a sea level rise of 1.1 metres, expected by 2100.

Coastal assets would be impacted by both sea water inundation and erosion, Mr Combet said in a statement, and would affect residential, commercial and industrial buildings, including “27,000 and 35,000km of roads and rail”.

“Governments at all levels need to be aware of the potential future costs of climate change, particularly as it affects the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, which currently cost around $1 billion per year on average,” he said in the statement.

Andrew Williams and Noel McIntosh were among the many groups and individuals attending the Sydney rally. They expressed their dismay that Australia was still quibbling over what action to take in addressing climate change.

Left Behind

Mr Williams, who works in the energy efficiency industry, said Australia was a leader in the field 10 years ago, but is now far behind.

“Businesses are pulling out so we have gone backwards in 10 years significantly,” he told The Epoch Times.

As support for renewables waned, Mr Williams said he was forced to seek work further afield and has since worked on energy efficiency projects in Cambodia and Laos. Their emissions trading schemes are working “very well”, he said, noting that the idea that Australians are leading the world in climate action is laughable.

“After working overseas for eight years, that is just funny. [Other countries] have been doing it and it is just part of life in Europe,” he said. “People are laughing at us and we are losing business.”

Despite the fears of massive costs, Mr Williams believes the carbon tax will impact minimally as electricity prices will rise anyway and, under recommendations from the Government’s climate change advisor Ross Garnaut, low income earners would be subsidised.

“I think it will have a much smaller impact than the GST—that was 10 per cent on everybody over night. I think people will honestly forget about it. Give it 12 months and they won’t notice.”

Tax as Insurance

Noel McIntosh said Australians had had it easy for too long, with cheap electricity and good wages. We now need to think outside the box and beyond the short term, he said.

He believes the carbon tax should be seen as insurance for the future.

“It is unbelievable. People say: ‘I will insure my car for 1 per cent [probability of an accident],’ but won’t back a scheme for a 90 per cent chance [that climate change will happen],” he said.

The Government hopes to finalise details in its carbon pricing scheme in early July and introduce legislation to Parliament by September. A fixed carbon price would then start on July 1, 2012.