The real tragedy is the Australian community didn't have the opportunity to engage in this debate.
And that's the criticism they have nothing to counter. If the Carbon Tax is so awesome and necessary, why wasn't it awesome and necessary leading up to the last election? There have been no great developments in Climate Change theory since then, so presumably the alleged pressing need for a price on carbon has not changed. Why wasn't it taken to the electorate?
All the government spin we're hearing is twelve months too late. If they really wanted this as a matter of principle they would have made it an election promise in 2010 and sold it with all the requisite spin and pork barrelling then, as Howard did with GST. They may have won doing so, many people are not anti carbon pricing per se but have been turned off by the underhanded introduction and the glaringly obvious fact that this is the result of a deal with the Greens to keep power.
It's got nothing to do with climate or the environment and everything to do with clinging on to a parliamentary majority, the same reason they haven't dumped the traitorous Rudd, no matter how much he shafts them.
These guys would legalize the sale of dophin steaks if they thought it would keep them a seat.
The trouble they've got is that every bastard knows it.