A salutary reminder

Yesterday's back flip on plans for an emissions trading scheme was like one of those revision lessons before an exam. It reminded us that while the Government can talk as it if is the government it cannot actually govern. To finally do things Labor needs the support of others. Pushing back the starting date for its scheme and softening the cost to business and the impact on jobs was a clear attempt to come up with a proposal that the Liberal-National parties would pass through the Senate. And if the Opposition has any political sense they will eventually agree to support it for if Labor cannot get their numbers then the alternative will be to do a deal with the Greens after a double dissolution. That is a prospect that should horrify the business community.

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