Comments on: Keane on Telstra

By: Kirk Broadhurst

Kirk Broadhurst — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:45:32 +0000

@James - it’s pretty simply really. We eat less of the stuff that is carbon intensive, and we don’t even have to worry about the carbon properties because are doing it purely on price. As production techniques improve to become less carbon intensive, the price drops and we can begin consuming more again.

Most people eat far too much meat, and far too much food generally.

By: james mcdonald

james mcdonald — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:40:44 +0000

But having said that, Kate Carnell’s attempt to piggyback the food manufacturing industy on the back of the food production industry is parasitic. Her organisation has done Australian farmers no favours, has fought tooth and nail against every public health campaign, and in general has no credit as a good corporate citizen.

By: james mcdonald

james mcdonald — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:21:44 +0000

Kirk, the purpose of taxing carbon is to influence choices of behaviour. What are we going to do, stop eating? I know, I know, become vegan and rely on legumes for protein. Sorry, not good enough, and even legumes would be carbon-taxed. Global famine, anyone?

By: Kirk Broadhurst

Kirk Broadhurst — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:23:02 +0000

@Kate Carnell, the "food manufacturing" industry may account for 2% of carbon emissions, but the agricultural industry accounted for 14.8% in 2007. This is not insignificant. 2% is also important. There are no doubt a few dozen industries which each contribute aorund 2%, and also need to compete with international producers; add those together and you quickly reach 20%-30%. If none of those contribute (oh we can't afford to!) then the burden is left on... who, exactly? Your argument is absurd. We don't know whether Asian food suppliers will have a carbon tax, so we won't have one to protect our industry. So I guess that decides that for those Asian countries, huh? Why have any carbon tax at all? It's only going to reduce our competitiveness, after all.

By: bakerboy

bakerboy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:53:00 +0000

Avril Clark and other Telstra shareholders - blame JW Howard for your loss of value. He delayed the inevitable splitting up of Telstra and then put on his stockbrokers hat and spruiked T2 shares to Mums and Dads to get money to bribe the electors. Telstra must be split up otherwise Australia will never have a fully competitive telecommunications industry.

By: shepherdmarilyn

shepherdmarilyn — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:43:46 +0000

Yeah right Cian, like the refugees locked up in your concentration camp can actually go anywhere to not be available for a visit.

The DIC’s are as dim as ever treating us all like mushrooms who need to be fed bullshit as they pretend refugees are criminals.