3 Dec 2021
A very peculiar notion of ‘radical’ │ Australian Financial Review
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - By JIM ALLEN
It is probably only in Australia that mainstream media could imagine it might pass muster to describe a politician who supports the “polluter-pays” principle and a carbon price as radical (“Lib senator calls for carbon price policy”, December 2).
It is well known that there was political bipartisanship on carbon pricing for some years in Australia, though that was undone by political opportunism and the disproportionate influence of vested interests.
Most economists back this approach which is already practised by firms with their own internal climate prices.
How do we get mature discussion of rational centrist ideas like a national carbon price, if it, or those who advocate it, get tagged as radical?
The lack of a well-designed carbon price holds us back economically, socially and environmentally. Well done Senator Andrew McLachlan for speaking out.