Don't forget the weather in the axing of the carbon tax in Australia

Abstract

In July 2014, the Australian government shocked the world by overturning an established carbon pricing mechanism. Although successful in repealing against the carbon tax, the government was unable to convince the Senate to abolish a number of initiatives linked to green energy instituted by the previous government. Scrapping of the carbon tax is politically beneficial to the unpopular government at the time, but the surviving climate agencies could haunt the government by continuing to provide evidence about climate change and the nation's increasing carbon emissions. It is unlikely other countries will follow Australia's action in going backwards on greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, heatwaves and bushfire events in Australia are becoming more frequent and severe. Public debate on the climate issue in Australia is far from over. Inevitable public realisation and global condemnation of Australia's action may contribute to a change in government or government policy.