‘Brave’ Gillard passes carbon tax
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It may be the policy that eventually brings down the government, but there was joy in Parliament yesterday as the lower house passed the controversial carbon tax bill. Is it the greatest political move Prime Minister Julia Gillard has made or just ensuring her own downfall? Hanging over the festivities was Tony Abbott’s “pledge in blood” to repeal the tax if elected. The Atlantic magazine named Gillard as one of its “2011 brave thinkers” for her resolute strength in pushing through a carbon tax. “Whether you see the move as politically expedient or as a principled course correction, there’s no denying the risk that it entails in a country where climate change is a wildly contentious issue,” writes Geoffrey Gagnon. At least someone, somewhere, is giving Gillard some kudos: “Some might be tempted to add the word ‘crazy’ to the brave description but after getting her “Clean Energy Future” legislation through the house, the Prime Minister probably deserves some credit from somewhere, although it might have been better if The Atlantic didn’t spell her name ‘Gilliard’,” says Dennis Atkins in The Courier-Mail. Jacqueline Maley in The Sydney Morning Herald paints a vivid picture of the shenanigans at Parliament yesterday after the bill was passed: “Everybody on the government side ran about shaking hands and embracing, and for a moment it was like we had swapped the House of Representatives for the set of Oprah.” It’s not surprising parliament was excited, it has taken a long time to get here: “… by the time a carbon scheme finally passes the federal Parliament later this year it will mark more than 15 years since it was first proposed by a government here,” writes Marcus Priest in The Australian Financial Review. Abbott may keep declaring that the carbon tax will kill the economy, but “the carbon tax is a much bigger political issue than it is an economic one,” notes Peter Hartcher in The Sydney Morning Herald. This was a big win for Gillard, and she was in desperate need of one, argues Dennis Shanahan in The Australian:
Annabel Crabb agreed at the ABC: “Bloodied but unbowed, the Prime Minister steams on.” Is this carbon price policy the new WorkChoices? asks Michelle Grattan in The Age:
The carbon tax was isn’t over yet, says Sid Maher in The Australian:
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18 Comments
Interesting to see how the media has covered what is probably the most significant political success that The Greens have had so far.
Of course there would be no carbon tax if Labor had power in its own right. Gillard is not the ‘liar’ of the right-wing loonies because circumstances changed and whoever formed government would have had to make major concessions to the independents. But, in my view, Labor and their supporters are liars to pretend that the carbon tax is mainly Labor’s success.
The ABC TV news (in Victoria) had about two seconds of The Greens, whilst Lateline had no mention of them and instead interviewed Tony Windsor. (It would be interesting to see the figures for the amount of media coverage that the independents are given compared to The Greens - the independents are a safe non-government voice which enables the media to present a non-major party view without giving The Greens any coverage).
Even this media wrap has no mention of The Greens - no, these days it is all the endless circus between the two major parties, and nothing else seems to matter
I think that this article is cheating. It’s just pulling together a bunch of quotes and work from other sources with no real or original point. Does Crikey really charge readers to access this kind of content! Pretty sad really!
Hi Amber,
The Carbon Tax is Labor’s workchoices. Toxic and memorable.
Sydney
This is the media wrap - there’s one every day.
It summarises the media coveage of the current issues, with a tiny amount of commentary.
Suzanne, if you’re going to parrot TTH’s line about Workchoices, then perhaps you should credit him for it.
and Sydney, this column is the morning media wrap, so is indeed just pulling together content from other sources. It does exactly what it says on the tin. Does your tin just say ‘troll’?
I know that your Media Wrap seldom wastes its time looking at The West Australian newspaper, but today’s edition was curious.
The front page ignores yesterday’s events in Parliament altogether and runs a story about the failure of the Malaysia Solution, before it has happened. The Carbon Tax doesn’t get a mention until page 6, where both the main stories are about Tony Abbott. Gillard is mentioned only in relation to the kiss from Rudd, which they span into a leadership beat-up.
Barely.even.care.
I suppose congratulations are in order for Christine Milne and the Greens.
I award no credit to the Labor government, according to the commentary from Crikey at least.
Suzanne …
If Labor has a workchoices it is asylum seekers.
This price on carbon stuff will win them votes … not with your footie mums perhaps… but certainly with their kids - and, most likely, with your own kids as well.
And the parrot.
In what way, shape or form could this possibly be construed as a win for the Greens? They voted against the CPRS in 2009.
S - Your post has to be one of the silliest I’ve ever seen on Crikey (and that is saying something).
Amber why do you parrot the negativity of the mass media in your opening paragraph, right from the first phrase?
I stopped reading after that.
It is not compulsory you know [don’t you?], even in a media wrap, to present the anti-Gillard/government media line that everything is ‘contraversial’”, ‘it may bring down the government”, Sir Humphrey describing the idea as ‘courageous’, ‘ensuring her own downfall’ etc.
It is possible to both precis the mass media and simultaneously analyse it, by pointing out that their negativity is partisan propaganda for starters rather than merely acting as yet another echo chamber.
Crikey is supposed to be independent, please live up to the claim
This is a fantastic win for the government and for Australia. To have a vision that extends beyond 2013, beyond 2020 and into the future of the earth that our children will have to inhabit, is one of the most inspirational acts undertaken in politics for decades.
Inane article. No comment.
Shares up for FMG, BHP and RIO. I told you people, this carbon tax will destroy industry! Why weren’t you listening!! I tip executives begging in the streets by the week’s end as this horrific wealth distribution kicks in and single mothers on welfare are personally hand delivered their luxury vehicles so they can drive around and spit in the eye of hard working small business owners who are no doubt boarding up their windows as we speak.
I can’t believe the sun rose today but we can’t be long for this world!!!
Every word a sermon RomanJohn.
Even the birds stealing my strawberries have stopped coming. It’s one of them omens I tells yer!
This “article” underscores what is wrong with media coverage, and political discourse in this country more generally. The sheer mindless vacuity of the bulk of the political class and the Murdoch-led “failed estate” is on full display here. Instructive, albeit disappointing.
Perhaps Ms Jamieson, you should try some actual journalism rather than mere retailing of empty-headed gossip for a change?
Of course, if that’s outside your skillset, far be it from me to suggest you step outside your comfort zone.
NB: What was passed was NOT a carbon tax but the transitional arrsangements for an ETS. If you’d been paying attention instead of mindlessly repeating the MBCM trolling you’d have noticed that. By all means though, as I said, continue to behave like a ventriloquist’s dummy with Rupert’s hand up your back.
@ Fran Barlow
Fran, you are quick to judge others and spew bile, when the 85% of people or more don’t agree with you.
The speed with which I evaluate the work of others bears no relationship to the proportion of people who agree with me. I take into account what is on offer, and make a call.
Of course, your figure of 85% is utter nonsense, like so much else of what you post here, but that’s neither here nor there Suzanne.