Meredith and Emissions Trading

The last four days have been pretty crazy. Saturday and Sunday were spent in the heated crazy atmosphere on the Meredith Music Festival. Which was excellent - I have met some new bands and reacquainted myself with old friends - in music and people that you just bump into when you go to these festivals. Although the 42 C temperature on the Sunday - accompanied with strong winds - made the atmosphere at Meredith almost unbearable. Dancing around in the dirt on Saturday afternoon and later that night is some of the most fun I have had in ages. Meredith really just has a great vibe - no fights everyone just there to have a good time - and I did along with my companions.
Though I paid for it onthe 6 am flight I took to Sydney on Monday morning, slightly silly really, but that is the way life goes sometimes. I have just spent the last two days at the National Emissions Trading conference. This ironically co-incided with John Howard announcing his taskforce which is set to investigate Australia's entry into a global emissions trading system. Of the twelve he chose - amongst them are representatives of the 2 largest coal exporters in Australia, the owner of the dirtiest coal fired power station, the chairwoman of Australia's largest transport emitter (Qantas) and a whole bunch of bureauecrats. At the conference I attended there were representatives of a whole bunch of companies who have done work on the ramifications of climate change on Australia, including the head of a taskforce that has designed an emissions trading regime for the states. Not one chosen to help the PM work out what to do about carbon trading. Peter Garret - the shadow minister for climate change - really has the ability to make the PM look silly on this issue as almost everyone (apart from the small group of people the PM has chosen to surround himself with on this issue) want change and want carbon trading. I just hope Johnny's run is over......