The House of Representatives in Canberra has passed the carbon tax and the bills will now be sent to the Senate to be rubber stamped by The Greens. The new tax slug will then commence on July 1 next year.
Looking at the scenes in the chamber yesterday after the bills passed, you could be forgiven for believing that Labor/Greens/independent politicians were within a little bubble adrift in another universe. It was staggering, most observers just shook their heads in disbelief. Labor MPs kissing each other, whoops of joy, the independents slapping government ministers on the back, Gillard ruffling the hair of other MPs, it just went on and on. And they were celebrating the fact that they had just introduced a new tax! Self indulgent and vainglorious to say the least. What on earth were they thinking?
After the tax had been passed, I resigned myself to the fact that the usual suspects would be crowing at their "victory". The ABC and Fairfax press would be hailing it with celebratory headlines and displays of triumphalism. But I was completely taken aback this morning by the universally poisonous reaction from the media and the massive wave of protest resonating right across the country.
This morning's Canberra Times is a case in point. Relentlessly pushing the carbon tax and "action on climate change" for several years now, the paper today has instead led with Tony Abbott's promise to repeal the tax. The stories inside are also less than complimentary. The ABC this morning has also run negative stories about the passing of the tax and its effect on business and the lives of battlers. When not even the ABC and Fairfax press will support you anymore, I'd say Labor and their fellow travellers have a problem. A big one.
The question of who will win the next election is now academic. It isn't a matter of who will win anymore, the only thing up for conjecture is whether Tony Abbott will achieve a massive majority or a record majority. Either way, Labor and the Independents are stuffed. Well and truly. By laying down meekly and selling their souls to The Greens and independents, Labor MPs have signed their own death warrants.
Gillard's performance during question time was absolutely pathetic. Her reference to Tony Abbott being marooned by the tide of history just goes to show how woefully out of touch she really is. Who the hell is advising her?
Abbott will find it difficult to roll back the carbon tax. Labor MPs have freely admitted that they framed the legislation in such a way that would make it almost impossible to repeal, it is so far-reaching into almost all corners of government. Not only that, there is the thorny question of the Senate to consider. The undemocratic preferential voting system has put The Greens in control and they will stay in that position for six more years. Even after Abbott wins the next election and tries to repeal the carbon tax, it will be blocked by Labor and The Greens in the Senate. The only hope is that it will be rejected twice, a double dissolution election will be held and if it is rejected again a joint sitting will then take place. Abbott's huge majority in the lower house will completely swamp The Greens and Labor and the carbon tax will be no more. So there is still hope.
All in all, we can mark October 12 as a truly black day in our history. Not only the date of the Bali bombing where 88 Australians were wantonly murdered, but the day democracy died in this country. A terrible and tragic day which will be remembered in infamy in coming years as the job queues lengthen, families are sent to the wall unable to pay their bills and business pulls up stumps from this country never to return.
