Australia-Europe carbon link wrong: Abbott

29 Aug 2012, 12:58 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has denounced a move to link the Australian and European carbon markets as 'wrong-headed'.

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Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the government is "wrong-headed" to link its emissions trading scheme to Europe's carbon market.

Climate Change Minister Greg Combet on Tuesday announced the Australian scheme would link with the world's largest carbon market in Europe from 2015 and the government would not go ahead with a floor price for carbon emissions.

Asked what signal it would send to the rest of the world about Australia's commitment to tackling climate change, Mr Abbott told reporters in Townsville: "Europe is not the rest of the world ... our competitors, our trading partners, are not introducing a carbon tax".

"And this idea we somehow secure our economic future by tying up with Europe, when Europe is going backwards and Asia is going forwards, just shows how wrong-headed this government is," he said.

Mr Abbott said Prime Minister Julia Gillard had given up on bringing the budget back to surplus, as the carbon tax would now deliver less revenue than expected and the government was rolling out big spending programs on education, immigration and dental health.

"This is a government which knows it is not going to deliver the promised surplus ... and will do almost anything to avoid the humiliation of having to admit that it can't be trusted with public money," Mr Abbott said.

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Your Comments

Carbon tax

Marlene - from Mildura, 9 months ago

If Tony Abbott has a computer he should do some research on countries who have carbon tax/pricing before he goes of half cocked.But then I remember he doesn't read things like that just likes to practice being Mr.Negative.

What's better Abbott you and your "wrong headedness"

shalzac - from Gold Coast, 9 months ago

So far I see nothing to say you are better Abbott. You say that the carbon tax is wrong due the costs by 21015, now we have a cheaper offer it is also wrong. Then everyone else is wrong on everything else, yet you have no real solutions, except Nauru, but this is not going to stop the boats and didn't back then either as Nauru was full all the time and Tampa incident, was under liberal policy then. Don't get me wrong both labor and Libs have it wrong. Stop Mining rich import slave labor maybe.

Stick with Asia

Perro - from Wandandian, 9 months ago

Asia should be Labour's focus and what they are not willing to sacrifice for the sake of making a token gesture, namely their economies. Europe's economic turmoil should be an example of who not to emulate.

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