It’s no news that the Rudd government’s ETS is probably the policy failure of the decade. But that hasn’t stopped to coal lobby from pulling out all stops to see how low they can go. Here’s their lobbying site and the ads they’re running in key marginals. And apparently it’s working. According to Get Up, a few waverers in government circles are being impressed by the latest lobbying efforts, even if, obviously, all the talk about ‘clean coal’ is total bunk.
GetUp are running a fund-raiser to get a counter-ad shown. It’s excellent.
And Hungry Beast (disclaimer: I was involved in the backgrounding for the show) have also done a pretty good take on things as well:
But perhaps pollies are right to be backing away from the ETS. After all, according to a Lowy Institute poll released today, as reported in the Oz, the public appear to be losing interest in the issue:
In 2007, tackling climate change was perceived as the joint top foreign policy goal, together with protecting the jobs of Australian workers.
In 2007, 75 per cent of those surveyed said climate change was a very important issue. Last year, this fell to 66 per cent, and this year to 56 per cent.
Global warming was viewed as “a critical threat” by 68 per cent in 2007, 66 per cent last year and 52 per cent this year.
Admittedly the sample was only 1003. But the government has done its best to run dead on the issue and kill any real expectations of change, and the rear-guard action from denialists has been strong, especially those arguments that counterpose action on warming against job losses and energy price increases – both issues bound to make any marginal seat holder nervous. And other immediately pressing issues like the GFC have also raised fears about job security for many.
The public and pollies seem to be caught in a mutually reinforcing downwards spiral. Pollies won’t act because the public doesn’t care. No-one in power is showing real leadership, so the public have switched off.
Global warming? Oh that was so 2007.
