Whose responsibility is it?

Carbon Tax, are we getting it right?

The Gillard Government is set to introduce it’s controversial carbon tax in 2012, putting a price on carbon for all Australians. John Kirk argues that while it may not be the right move to make, it is a step in the right direction.

I recently sat around the table at an industry awards night with a group of highly professional and well educated people. The conversation turned inevitably to the subject of the carbon tax and to climate change in general. 

Opinions were varied from full support of the tax to disbelief in climate change as a factual scientific event. The one common denominator was that, other than me, no one understood the difference between the media spin on climate change and the peer reviewed evidence that shows a consensus of scientists agree that climate change is real and that it is caused by mankind.

Practice makes perfect and other benefits of mature-aged workers

Can we afford $40 a tonne for carbon?

Our challenge is to pin-point what the tipping  price is to motivate Australian industry to start innovating.

Much of the debate in the news over the last few days has been over the actual price of the soon to be carbon tax. It has been suggested that a tax of $40 will be the going rate whilst Labor Party Minister Combet says that it will start at much less than that.

Carbon Tax: Getting our value from the revenue

The introduction of a carbon price has been one of the more controversial decisions from the federal government’s Clean Energy Future plan. John Kirk will be keeping a close eye on where the revenue raised from this tax goes.

Do we need a price on carbon emissions?  In my opinion there is no doubt that it is necessary. The big question is how to make sure Australia derives the most benefit from funds raised through the tax.

The only way we as a community will begin to understand the ramifications of our individual carbon emissions is to have a price put on them.  Will this stop us from using electricity, driving cars, or continuing to use products that require intensive carbon emissions?  Not if history is an indicator. 

Call for sustainable approach to rebuilding after disasters

Is the day of the Apprenticeship past?

Taking a chance on mature-aged workers

Recruiters do not admit to discriminating against mature-aged candidates, however the circumstantial evidence suggests otherwise.

As someone who has worked with and managed both young workers, including school leavers, and more mature workers (one still working at 83 years of age) I have come to the conclusion that hiring mature workers is a much safer bet than hiring younger people. 

Mature workers have experience, but most of them also have commitments and family, which tends to make them more stable and conscientious. There are always exceptions to every rule but this is my general experience.

With this in mind, why is it that workers over the age of 45 have so much trouble finding employment? 

Hot Fractured Rock Geothermal Energy

We should be investing in hot fractured rock geothermal technology.

Australia has potentially one of the largest fields of geothermal hot fractured rock (HFR) energy available.  The technology is available to drill for this clean energy.

Surely an investment in the infrastructure required to bring this abundant energy to the national grid would be of long term benefit not only to for our energy requirements but for the reduction of our carbon footprint? 

I would challenge the big energy and coal companies to look toward investment in this area in the interests of diversifying their businesses away from coal and energy produced by coal.