Tony Abbott’s latest rollback pledge? The pokies mandatory pre-commitment scheme. Here he is at an RSL club in Western Sydney last night:
“When this legislation comes before the parliament, I predict that we will oppose it and if this legislation is passed by the parliament and if we then subsequently form a government, I predict we will rescind it.”
No word as to whether making a prediction is the same as making a promise, or a blood pledge — but there it is, another rollback to add to the red tape scenario that must have the public service shitting bricks.
The media have dutifully reported the pledge this morning. But now to do the numbers on how much it would cost to wave a magic wand to make it all go away.
We’re still waiting for Abbott to further elaborate on this considered response to the suggestion that the threat to rollback the carbon tax will actually drive electricity prices up in the immediate future? Let’s recap on Abbott’s detailed retort to this theory:
”It’s complete nonsense. It’s nonsense on stilts. Reducing costs reduces prices. It doesn’t increase them. Taking the tax off will reduce costs and reduce prices.”
You may need to read that several times to grasp the complex economic theory embedded within that sound bite. Also not to be confused with the clean energy future legislation in general, also referred to by the opposition leader as nonsense. On stilts.
The Coalition may not have made a serious attempt at it, but luckily we have some of the best brains in the country attempting to wrap their heads around the logistics of what Abbott is proposing. Constitutional lawyer George Williams writes in The Sydney Morning Herald today: “Even if Abbott is right about the negative impact of the carbon tax, this may be outweighed by the cost of dismantling it.” Lawyer and policy analyst Fergus Green in Inside Story ponders the other constitutional and political barriers that would stand in the way of a repeal, including the compensation issue. And in August, the Australia Institute released a report entitled The direct costs of waiting for direct action, featuring a timeline that plots putting rollback legislation to a hostile Senate, triggering the inevitable double dissolution election and thus ensuring that the first Direct Action projects will float in, oh, 2018 …
what’s with the ‘predict’? He isn’t comitting? He isn’t sure? He knows there are no certainties in gambling?
Talk about populist economics! The rAbbott doesn’t have a clue. When is he going to “write it down”? And what happens if, as PM, he doesn’t come up with the goods? The reaction from the Lib believers should be interesting, but it will be too late by then!!!!!
‘another rollback to add to the red tape scenario that must have the public service shitting bricks.’
I doubt it – they get on with what the government wants.
No doubt the audience roared with this prediction. What the opposers of the legislation believe is that precommitment will work. They don’t want their financial pools diminished by behaving as responsible corporate citizens. Clubs Australia is a disgrace to the nation and if Tony Abbott supports their views then he is too. Anyone happy to ride on the backs of addicts deserves full condemnation.
Clubs Australia – more like Thugs Australia.
Tony Abbott, a wit and wordsmith ie: “It’s nonsense on stilts.” Ironically, his own phrase sums him up neaty.