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Carbon Tax In Australia Essay

Carbon emissions during recent decades have generated much controversy and some communities have taken harsh measures in order to combat effects associated with the process. The Australian Federal Government introduced a carbon tax of $23AUD per ton of emitted carbon dioxide on a series of fossil fuels in order to effectively deal with pollution. Finances gained from the process have been used to reduce income tax and provide Australian citizens with several benefits. While the legislation has been welcomed by many local and international bodies, some have frowned upon it and have called for its repeal on account of how it produced much damage both on a small level by increasing cost of living and on a larger level by preventing businesses from being able to experience progress. Tony Abbott's article "THE COALITION'S PLAN TO ABOLISH THE CARBON TAX" is among the most recognized criticisms regarding the carbon tax in Australia. The Leader of the Opposition emphasized how the tax seriously affected the Australian economy and how it fails to address numerous problems that it was actually meant to solve. Looking at matters from this perspective certainly makes it possible for one to acknowledge the ways that the tax harms the Australian community.

While Abbott's text might be regarded by some as being propaganda and as being an attempt to get more support from the public, the leader of the opposition nonetheless seems to be convinced that the tax is responsible for harming the idea of freedom in general. "Repealing the Carbon Tax will ease cost of living pressures on families, help small business and restore confidence to the economy."...

Carbon emissions are often directly proportional with profits and this influences many companies to express lesser interest in their emissions and more interest in their profits. As a consequence, many regard carbon taxes to play a significant role in discouraging business owners from keeping their enterprise. Small businesses often go bankrupt because they cannot afford to produce as long as they are obligated to stay within emission borders that seriously prevent their ability to function.
Restricting emissions has become a main goal for many nations during recent years as pollution has been associated with significant problems, ranging from climate change to individuals experiencing health issues as a result of breathing polluted air. Carbon taxes are thus welcomed by many and considered to be one of the main concepts standing between abusive companies solely interested in profits and society's well-being as a whole.

Carbon taxes are certainly efficient in preventing further damage to the environment but, as pointed out earlier, they can have a particularly negative effect on a community's potential to experience economic progress. Governments thus have to consider a multitude of factors before passing a carbon tax and it is only safe to say that Australia's carbon tax is, to a certain level, an experiment. The fact that it is relatively new makes it possible for one to understand that the federal government had a limited understanding of the exact effects that it would have on the Australian community.

Many Australians are inclined to believe that the carbon tax only harms businesses and that normal individuals are unaffected as a result of this respective legislation. "The Abbott government insists the carbon tax will end on 1 July next year even if the parliament has not yet repealed it but leading lawyers say companies would still be liable and should continue to pass the tax on to their customers." (Taylor) The reality…

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Works cited:

Bell, L. "Australian Voters Energetically Reject Concocted Climate Crisis And Carbon Tax Disasters." Retrieved October 19, 2013, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2013/09/29/australian-voters-energetically-reject-concocted-climate-crisis-and-carbon-tax-disasters/

Gardner, T. "U.S., China agree to cut emissions from vehicles, coal." Retrieved October 19, 2013, from http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/10/us-climate-usa-china-idUSBRE9690VM20130710

Ryan, R. "Kevin Rudd says Labor 'got it wrong' on introducing carbon tax without mandate." Retrieved October 19, 2013, from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-25/rudd-says-labor-got-it-wrong-on-carbon-tax/4910690

Taylor, L. "Tony Abbott insists carbon tax will end on 1 July -- even if Senate blocks repeal." http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/15/tony-abbott-insists-carbon-tax-will-end-on-1-july-even-if-senate-blocks-repeal
"Emissions Trading: The Pros and Cons." Retrieved October 19, 2013, from http://www.climatechange.com.au/2008/04/08/emissions-trading-the-pros-and-cons/
"How will the carbon tax affect me?." Retrieved October 19, 2013, from http://www.carbontax.net.au/category/how-will-the-carbon-tax-affect-me/
"LEGISLATION TO REPEAL THE CARBON TAX." Retrieved October 19, 2013, from http://www.pm.gov.au/media/2013-10-15/legislation-repeal-carbon-tax
"OUR PLAN TO ABOLISH THE CARBON TAX." Retrieved October 19, 2013, from http://www.liberal.org.au/our-plan-abolish-carbon-tax
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