Kenneth Davidson explains why Dan Andrews should close Hazelwood

T

he business and political establishment's reverence for free markets should not blind its members to the fact that even rigid adherence to neoliberal economic theology provides space for government interference to correct for market failure which distorts resource allocation and impoverishes the commonwealth.

Market prices should reflect the external costs of activities which impose costs on society. The most egregious example is the failure to incorporate the cost to health and the environment caused by global warming from burning fossil fuels.

In 1989 Margaret Thatcher told a UN climate forum: "We should always remember that free markets are a means to an end. They would defeat their object if by their output they did more damage to the quality of life through pollution than the wellbeing they achieve by the production of goods and services."

Read Kenneth Davidson’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Why Dan Andrews should close the Hazelwood Power Station”.

It's time for our stateswomen to step forward - Ian Dunlop

M

argaret Thatcher helped ignite a market system that worsened climate change, but at least she was aware of the dilemma.

Ian Dunlop.

The fact that the late British Prime Minister was conscious of climate change three decades ago, has prompted Ian Dunlop to suggest in today’s Age that is is time for our “stateswomen to step forward”.

The former international oil, gas and coal industry executive, chair of the Australian Coal Association and CEO of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, who is also a Member of the Club of Rome, says, “Time for stateswomen to step forward on climate change”.

Lord Deben calls it like it is and ruffles a few Australian feathers

Lord Deben critical of Tony Abbott.

Lord Deben might be many things, but he is most certainly not a fool and has made a call that the Australian Government can only respond to with emotive and personal attacks.

The British Lord, and leading Tory politician, has accused Australia’s Prime Minister, Tony Abbott of “recklessly endangering” the future of the world.

The ABC reports on this accusation in a story headed: “Carbon tax repeal: UK politician Lord Deben attacks Tony Abbott's 'reckless' plan toscrap carbon tax”.

Lord Debden is Britain’s longest serving environmental minister, a former head of the Conservative Party who served under Margaret Thatcher and John Major, and is now the head of the UK Committee on Climate Change.