Qantas Airways chief executive Alan Joyce has unexpectedly come out in favour of Prime Minister Julia Gillard's carbon tax policy, saying the move is an important step towards transitioning Australia away from coal-fired energy and non-sustainable fuels, according to a report by the Australian Financial Review.
Australia's largest airline, which expects to spend $3.7 billion on fuel in 2011, may find itself at odds with the airline industry's main body, the International Air Transport Association, which has lobbied against unilateral carbon taxes on the basis they will damage the global competitive landscape.
But Mr Joyce has joined a growing list of Australian corporate giants who are siding with the carbon tax, including Westpac Banking Corp Ltd chief executive Gail Kelly, Origin Energy Ltd head Grant King and the chief of Shell Australia, Ann Pickard.
Mr Joyce said the price on carbon is necessary because it will help Australia meet its emissions reductions commitments under the Kyoto Protocol and to wean the country off coal-fire burning to gas or nuclear, according to the AFR.
Let me guess why Qantas would want a carbon tax? Another justification to sending more and more jobs offshore, to remain "competitive"?
Also, very appropriate timing calling for a nuclear energy debate in Australia, given what is unfolding in Japan right now. You really have to wonder what goes through some peoples minds sometimes?