To some extent I can understand the position of the Abbott Government on the issue of coal. I think I'm not misrepresenting it when I say it's that coal is a resource which the government is seeking to promote and protect. Perhaps it's because Big Coal, like any other big business, supports the Libs. But it might also be because the government realises that the coal industry can't be dismantled almost overnight without massive hits to the economy. We know that Abbott himself has rejected the concept of renewable energy in favour of coal. And here he shows his ignorance and his lack of policy smarts. Abbott doesn't understand that the rest of the world doesn't see energy policy as he does. This means that our trading partners who currently rely on our coal and from which our economy makes quite a bit of money are already looking to reduce their dependence on coal. Also there is a major divestment going on, fossil fuels are not good investments simply because in the future demand for fossil fuels, which includes coal, will gradually disappear in favour of renewable or other forms of energy. Abbott can't see further then the next federal election. He also can't do policy, only politics. His energies are channelled into his keeping the PM's job. That means keeping the Libs in power and keeping himself as leader of his party. This requires playing politics all the time at the expense of policy. You only have to look at his choice of senior policy staff Peta Credlin, an ideological warrior, a policy nobody. Coal for him is about politics, not policy. It's keeping Big Coal in profit and of course, workers in jobs. A politician who was aware of their duty to the well-being of the country rather than themselves would be developing policy to deal with the eventual death of the coal industry in Australia. It will happen but we won't be ready for it because Abbott simply can't envisage it. Apart from anything else, this myopia based on pure selfishness is a reason Abbott, for the good of the country, must go, either now or at the next election.
No, he is just protecting the economy of the country, jobs and tax revenue..... which is the job of government, no matter which party is in power. Your just blaming him because it suits you. The ALP did nothing either..... except sabotage the mining and manufacturing industries to get popular support for an ineffective spin campaign about carbon - but that had nothing to do with pollution or moving away from coal.
Oh mate, I hope you won't have to eat all that coal you are so sincerely advoacting for. Have you ever looked in your calendar, do you know the year we are living in? Ask any 10 year old, they will give you a write up about coal.... Regards
Diu, most us know he has to go, the sooner the better. Only a minority still believes in his childish dreams, and have realized that the Pit bull and bully has absolutely nothing on tap.... Regards
The coal industry is doing nothing more than any other business big or small, they are supplying a demand. There has been and still is quite a big demand for coal around the world and Australia has done and still is doing quite well supplying that demand. I don't know what your problem is.
Do you still regard asbestos as good? Why do you still glorify coal? Mate, it is 2015, inform yourself and move on.... Regards
God created earth, then buried the Carbon and created man, who evolved to dig it up and release again, inspiring rock ape glorification while tread marks are being left on Mars!
My problem must be I don't express myself too clearly. Demand for coal and for other fossil fuels is going to lower as other countries realise the problem of global climate change and the place of fossil fuels in that process. Our coal probably won't run out for a hundred years but no bugger will be buying it in a hundred years, or even fifty years or even twenty years. We should be planning for the End of Coal right now. But with "climate change is crap" Abbott in the way that won't happen. His govt can't plan for it and still go on about "climate change is crap". As I said, he's all politics, no policy.
The Coalition has got the Carbon problem fixed, one has only to plough the paddock backward, ask Greg Hunt!
