In the six years I have been a TD and for much of the decade before that, there was a coalition in this House - a coalition that existed across Government and Opposition that supported the carbon tax. There was a coalition that recognised the arguments that a dedicated, predictable and increasing fund of money was necessary to fund the changes needed to transition our economy away from fossil fuels. There was a coalition, again, across Government and Opposition, that took difficult votes against populist amendments and spoke against populist motion and a coalition that recognised that sometimes, in this House, we need to genuinely look towards the long term and not just towards the next election. Today, with these financial resolutions, the Government has smashed that coalition. It has bowed to the pressure of populists. It has provided fodder for those who argue falsely that the carbon tax - a tax that only brings in 1% of our country's tax revenue - is the source of all ills. Now that the Government has demonstrated that the carbon tax is negotiable and that when pressure is applied, it will bend, how can we expect to see the next increase take place in October? The people who blocked public transport and who prevented workers from moving are watching. They know that the Government cracked in April and it will crack again in October. A Rubicon has been crossed today and the Government has lost the argument for us all.

Sentiment score: -0.14