Instead of imposing a carbon levy on polluters to fund big personal income tax cuts, governments are gambling taxpayer money on climate and energy projects.
Australia’s policies on taxing carbon and mining have experienced a sharp U-turn since just over a decade ago.
Instead of taxing carbon emissions like the Gillard Labor government, taxpayers will now pay big carbon emitters. NSW will pay Origin Energy up to $450 million to extend until 2027 its coal-fired power plant in the Hunter Valley.
