British Prime Minister in full support of Australia’s carbon tax policy
David Cameron, the British Prime Minister, has given his full backing in support of Australia’s plans to impose a tax on the country’s 500 biggest carbon polluters.
David Cameron, the British Prime Minister, has given his full backing in support of Australia’s plans to impose a tax on the country’s 500 biggest carbon polluters. In a letter written directly to Julia Gillard, the Australian Prime Minister, the British PM openly declared his admiration for such a bold and ambitious project.
"I was delighted to hear of the ambitious package of climate change policy measures you announced on 10 July and wanted to congratulate you on taking this bold step," the Prime Minister wrote. “Climate change is one of the most pressing threats we face and we need to take urgent action to reduce emissions and put economics on a more sustainable low carbon footing,” he added. The Prime Minister also noted how the decision will send out a “strong and clear” message to other developed and developing countries that it is time to get serious in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.
However, not everyone shares the spirited view of Mr Cameron as critics claim that the tax will have little if any effect on global warming and will only prove to hurt industry, costing jobs and rising the living costs of Australian citizens. As Climate Action reported last week the decision has been met with strong criticism by Australia’s tourism industry also, who feel that the enforcement of a carbon tax could have disastrous consequences for their trade. In a statement to the Australian Herald Sun, ATEC managing director, Felicia Mariani, said: "The impact of a price on carbon is yet another hit to these businesses and forcing them to question their ongoing viability. If these businesses go down they take with them the jobs and livelihoods of tens of thousands of individuals and communities."
The $25 million marketing campaign spearheaded by the Australian government to help sell the policy has also been subject to scrutiny, with some commenting that it breaches the rules set within political advertising. Ms Gillard has since condemned any such claims, and is determined to push ahead with the television advertising, the distribution of leaflets and the creation of a new website all promoting the carbon tax legislation. The campaign will be funded exclusively by the Australian tax payer.