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image: theage.com.au

     A new energy policy is taking effect in Queensland, Australia, lowering overall energy consumption costs, but massively inflating prices for energy services. Effectually, according to director of Country Solar Steve Madson, this policy has no effect on energy bills, and can even lower them, while simultaneously removing all economic incentive for consumers to install new solar systems.

     Madson's suspicion is based in precedent. Prime Minister Tony Abbott described climate change theories as 'crap' in 2009, and earlier this year, Australia became the first developed nation in the world to repeal their carbon tax, despite its effectiveness.

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Image: Anatoly Kabanets

     In light of protests against furniture retailer Harvey Norman, members of the Australian parliament are looking to make boycotts against companies based on environmental claims illegal. Australia already has laws in place that ban secondary boycotts, but environmental groups are currently exempted from the law.
     In recent years, environmental factors have become a large non-market focus for companies, as greater awareness of industrial impacts on nature have led to harsher inspection in the public eye. Should this law pass, it would relieve some of the pressure on companies such as Harvey Norman to maintain certain environmental standards, and limit the public voice on such matters.
     Then again, the intent of this law does not seem to be to allow companies leeway, but merely to discourage dishonest campaigns, as Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Richard Colbeck claims. In addition to this law, Colbeck says, he supports an addition to Australia's competition laws that would establish guidelines for determining the legitimacy of boycott claims.

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- The Guardian