I grew up on a market farm on the Central Coast, NSW. My Dad sent me to uni to get an engineering degree so I wouldn't have to bust my back like he did. So now, while I am not a farmer, I have an affinity towards farmers in this Country and feel for their plight, especially through the last decade of drought. When I read about the Carbon tax, I have mixed feelings towards it. On the one hand there is the hip pocket pain for some, but on the other hand there is the possibility of gain - for our environment, the climate, and also for those who can afford to invest in alternative power generation. I am writing to encourage you all (including your readers) to lobby the Federal Government hard in order to get major credits for investment in photovoltaic panels (solar cells panels) and other alternative power generating technology set up on their farms that are connected to the power grid. Any excess electricity generated is credited ($) back. While this is not a new idea and it is already done in various places around the world, I would encourage you again to lobby the Government. You have nothing to lose. Regards, Carlo

During the last 5-6 years large financial institutions have been buying up vast tracts of land to plant bluegum (what did they know?)

Since they are not particularly intersted in the wood production, how do carbon credits make their investment profitable given that trees are harvested on 12-13 year rotation.

The science says trees don't start storing carbon till 12 years old.

Since this is probably the first (and planned for) rort, how can us lesser beings (farmers) cash in on what these institutions have sold as a viable carbon sink.

Bluey

Yet another indirect expense to the farming sector as the cost of carbon credits to upstream and downstream contributors will be passed on to farmers through higher fert costs and lower produce prices, inadvertantly putting pressure on our environment.

Read the Manhattan Declaration on Climate Change (Google it) and you will see there is informed dissent out there about trending global climate conditions. I believe the rush by Kevin Rudd to try and be a hero on the world stage with ETS ahead of gaining a broad global concensus is a dangerous gamble with an insignificant polluter (1% of global emissions) by world standards. He's playing high stakes poker with Australia's future to pander to his ego. Be careful Mr Rudd, I don't think you're smart enough to handle this one.

Why means test solar technologies at a household level; why not embrace Natural Sequence Farming methods and promote build up effective means to improve soil moisture and carbon retention, and increase fertitlity; why not redirect northern Australian water down the Darling; why not follow examples set by nations like Israel that can make the desert bloom and who have the most efficient irrigation technologies in the world; why not position Australia as a a world leader in solar, wind, wave and other alternative technologies; why not simplify the tax system to encourage business investment in R and D? The list goes on but all Labor can do is implement another tax? Nothing unusual but the problem is that this hits those "working families' the hardest.

This nation is headed for tough times based on inconclusive evidence and backed by individuals like Al Gore, whose carbon footprint is obscene. Australians must keep questioning what politicians of all persuasions have in mind otherwise we are riding for a fall.

"Unconvinced" says it all!! The only thing that is missing in his letter is the fact that apart from increasing prices to major so called "polluters" as a one off, this new TAX does absolutely nothing for carbon emissions, it's another TAX with a spin! You put carbon in the air, you pay the government for the pleasure, your prices must go up in order to be able to keep on producing, manufacturing or whatever, we pay. Am I too simplistic?