Bronwyn Bishop: The Copenhagen fairy tale with no happy endingThe Hans Christian Anderson classic, ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’, is a nice allegory for the Copenhagen climate summit. Who’s going to mention that the Copenhagen Accord is spun from lies? asks Bronwyn Bishop.
Emissions Trading Scheme
How the climate change whining has got us nowhere
As soon as you combine a worthy goal with politicians, disaster strikes. What if we skipped them and started taking climate change action ourselves? Like getting a climate change fighting fund started, suggests John Humphreys.
Albrechtsen: Our PM has no balls
The people love him, but as Kevin Rudd done anything of great substance as PM? Instead, he avoids making difficult decisions — from the ETS to the stimulus package — to help ensure his popularity, writes Janet Albrechtsen.
No regrets on the road from
Copenhagen
Copenhagen changes nothing for Australian policymakers — but that won’t stop politicians from using it as a political weapon.
British High Commissioner: We’ll all live with the consequences of Copenhagen failure
We will all live with the consequences of our government’s failure to achieve a legally binding agreement at Copenhagen, writes British High Commissioner to Australia Valerie Amos.
Colebatch: The Copenhagen glass is half full
It’s Christmas drinks at the Economists’ Club, and Copenhagen is the talk of the town. Tim Colbatch tells the tale.
Shanahan: Rudd stuck between a rock and a hard place
After failing to achieve agreement in Copenhagen, Kevin Rudd has to balance the Greens and Tony Abbott to try and pass his ETS. Rudd’s now the diplomatic middle child, both domestically and internationally, notes Dennis Shanahan.
Is no one allowed to question the government?
Anyone who dared question the government’s ETS plan, like Senator Barnaby Joyce, was declared a climate change dinosaur and destroyer of our future. When will the magic ride of Rudd rhetoric end? asks Malcolm Colless.
Sheehan: Rudd just an environmental blowhard of hot air
We can’t blame Kevin Rudd entirely for climate change and global warming. But we can blame him for making it even worse, writes Paul Sheehan. Rudd’s green credentials are disappearing faster than the Murray Darling Basin.
Akerman: What part of the word “failure” doesn’t Rudd understand?
Copenhagen was an “abject disaster, a dud, a dog, a bust” and a “flopperoo of grand proportions”, says Piers Akerman — so why is he still determined to push forward with an ETS?
Wilson: It used to be about the music — Rudd sells out
By supporting the Copenhagen Accord, Kevin Rudd has sold out Australia’s ability to negotiate on future climate deals for very little in return, says Tim Wilson.
Rudd — go green or go home
With the Coalition now unlikely to cut a deal with the Government on an ETS, Kevin Rudd’s best hope may be to commit to a much more serious emissions target of 25% to gain the support of the Greens.
Kohler: Copenhagen kills Rudd’s ETS
The failure of Copenhagen leaves Kevin Rudd with two choices, writes Alan Kohler: call a double dissolution election then force the CPRS through a joint sitting of parliament, or wait until after the next climate change conference in Mexico and hope for the best.
Coorey: The heat is now on Hunt
Pity poor Greg Hunt, says Phillip Coorey: the Opposition environment spokesperson Greg Hunt now has a month to fashion out some sort of climate-change policy without an emissions trading scheme.
Grattan: A loss for the planet, a win for Abbott
The poor outcome of Copenhagen will be a boost for Tony Abbott, giving credence to his argument that Rudd has been “rushing” Australia into an ETS, says Michelle Grattan.
Hopelesshagen for Rudd
The failure of Copenhagen will make it far harder for Kevin Rudd to sell his emissions trading scheme before the next Federal Election, writes Lenore Taylor and Sid Maher.
Grattan: Abbott’s on the offensive
Malcolm Turnbull feared an early election, Tony Abbott says bring it on. Turnbull pushed for an ETS, Abbott turned ETS debate into a tax fight. Abbott is ready to battle Rudd at the next election, says Michelle Grattan.
Shanahan: Copenhagen’s failure puts climate back on the Aussie election agenda
With the likely failure of any real deal on climate change in Copenhagen, and an Opposition leader willing to fight an election with a strong anti-ETS line, Rudd could face a big backlash from voters — and Abbott actually has a shot, says Dennis Shanahan.
Gittins: Will the 2010 election be the making of Rudd?
The Libs will run a negative election campaign, dissing their ‘great big tax’ policies without really introducing their own. Which means Rudd will have to stand up for his policies and not just rely on Opposition leadership trouble, says Ross Gittins.
The power of Barnaby Bananas
When Barnaby Joyce ranted on talkback about the ETS rants, he used the word that makes all voters ears prick up: tax. And the influence that Joyce had over the CPRS debate was huge. Will the ‘Barnaby factor’ continue? asks Madonna King.
Fran Kelly: Where is Rudd when we need him?
Going to election with a Great Big New Tax is risky. But if Kevin Rudd stops jetting off overseas and spent more time convincing the electorate of the need for an emissions trading scheme, he could pull it off, says Fran Kelly.
Grattan: Sour grapes Malcolm trash talks his new leader
It’s nearly an election year and recently deposed Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull is on the warpath against Tony Abbott over climate change. Can Turnbull convince other members to cross the floor and vote for the ETS? asks Michelle Grattan.
Libs finally on the right path to salvation
The Liberals dodged a bullet with the ETS, because they would have been stuck criticising a policy they helped create, writes The Oz. There is broad discontent amongst the electorate about the ETS and the Libs need to start milking that.
POLL: More voters agree with Abbott than Rudd on climate change
The latest Essential Report comes in with a steady two party preferred of 58-42 but the real surprise comes in the additional questions: 27% of voters agree with Tony Abott’s stance on the ETS — compared with 24% for Rudd and the ALP. Possum Comitatus has all the figures.
Quiggin: The Liberals turn Chinese
The only feasible way Tony Abbott can achieve an emissions trading scheme that matches Rudd’s reduction target but doesn’t involve a tax is by embracing the Chinese model of investing in hydro, nuclear and other renewable energy, says John Quiggin. Ahh, the irony.
