It sounded so impressive:
A group of almost 300 Australian businesses says a price on carbon will drive innovation and keep the country internationally competitive.The new tax allows allows the government to charge Australia’s biggest polluters for their carbon emissions.
The group called ‘Businesses for a Clean Economy’ was created to support carbon pricing and counter opposing voices.
Close to 300 companies including Westpac, AGL and Fujitsu have signed a statement backing the introduction of a price on carbon.
The group also includes renewable energy companies such Infigen and Hydro Pacific.
But Terry McCrann hears the rattle of a collection tin:
WELL, that’s a surprise. Companies with their corporate snouts deep in the multi-billion dollar carbon tax trough think that it’s a good idea.
The “almost 300 organisations” galvanised under the pompously and deceitfully self-named “Businesses for a Clean Economy” are voicing support for putting a price on carbon.
“Businesses for Cleaning out the Taxpayer,” would be a far more accurate and indeed honest label…
A visit to the BCE website is highly and amusingly instructive… There are solar companies galore, green energy assessors, wind turbine makers, plus some big ones such as Westpac and GE which know where the easy dollars are, plus the assorted ever-present useful idiots and starry-eyed planet-savers.
Even sillier, checking by the Liberals reveals that the companies aren’t all they claim to be:
No surprise this.
When government interferes in business, it’s always the rent seekers who try to tilt the “crony capitalism” in their favor. The problem isn’t with the lobbyists, it’s with the government putting it’s political nose where it doesn’t belong.
We have to understand, consumers are the primary beneficiaries of the capitalist system. Business managers are always attempting to reduce the uncertainties on their investment and therefore try their best to avoid real competition. Better to “invest” in a sure thing with political support (be it green energy, or “affordable” health care, or other schemes dreamed up by the politicians).
“The problem isn’t with the lobbyists, it’s with the government putting it’s political nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Zactly. Restrict government power to what is authorized in the Constitution, and the lobbyists will disappear.
“We have to understand, consumers are the primary beneficiaries of the capitalist system.”
More than that. Wealth to individuals is an equally important result.
Can I claim a rebate for my biplane fuel?