“Instead of exposing extreme green elements for what they are, Labor has got into bed with them to secure preferences and votes. That has led to a corresponding opposing reaction in the right. In fact, it is boiling in the bush,” said The Nationals’ Senator Ron Boswell today during Senate debate on the CPRS bills. “The last time that level of unhappiness and frustration happened we saw the rise of One Nation. It is up to us, especially The Nationals, to keep the debate on the rails, to prevent it becoming extreme. If we are not their voice, whether by absence or timidity, then they will look to the charlatan extreme right for a lead and for political representation.” “One view is that the Coalition can get away with supporting the CPRS because the right has nowhere to go. But recent history has shown that when there is disenchantment on the right, Labor stays in power thanks to renegade and rogue elements that hijack and split the conservative vote.” “The Senate can prevent that move to the extreme by giving rural and regional Australians a fair hearing on the ETS. To ignore or belittle their views would be a grave mistake. They are the ones who would have to wear the ETS, far more than leafy suburb professionals.”  “So this is a warning that we must not forget these people. Regional Australia will be the hardest hit by this ETS. Therefore they should be the first to be considered. And don’t insult them with promises of green jobs. They are seldom in the places where the non-green jobs have been destroyed. Nor do they pay as well as miners’ rates.” “Australia is embarking on a solo voyage to a new frontier. Of all the countries in the world, none has established a scheme that threatens the competitiveness of their key industries like Rudd’s ETS.” “None have prejudiced their natural competitive advantage by taxing it.” “Australians want us to do our share to reduce emissions, but they do not want us to go over the top without covering fire. They do not want our industries savaged with effectively a carbon tax while our competitors have none, because that would mean jobs lost and economic survival sacrificed.” “We are not a nation of green monks willing to give these things up to high polluting rivals.” “There are the ETS deniers, the sceptics who cannot face the economic facts of this debate. Some of them are rent seekers, vested interests who stand to make millions from the churn of money going from business and household to government via financial instruments and their brokers.”  “What is our international commitment in terms of climate assistance to developing countries? What’s the green aid tab for Australia? And how will it be funded? What new taxes or regulations? This is clearly a major part of the Copenhagen process.” “The Prime Minister says we’ll pay our share. But tell us what that share is, please.” “The Prime Minister may be a friend of the chair, but he is no friend of the farmer.”  “Any amendment won in the debate next week, any concession granted by the government tomorrow, can all be reversed in a future Senate where Labor and the Greens have the majority.” “A concession granted today is only one Senate vote away from being abolished tomorrow.” “So be warned, all who think they’ve got a good deal out of the government - all those peak industry groups or companies who have been bought off by the government in return for their support for the CPRS, for you will face a monster of your own creating down the Senate track.” ENDS