Australia carbon tax repeal a \\\'perfect storm of stupidity\\\'

Australia's axing of its carbon tax and a plan to replace it by offering incentives to polluters to increase their energy efficiency ‘the perfect storm of stupidity’, scientists and academics argue. The repeal of the divisive levy, a fundamental pledge of the conservative government at elections last year, has been warmly welcomed by farming, industry and mining groups. ‘The carbon tax was a dead weight on the Australian economy and abolishing it is a win for consumers, a win for energy users and a win for business,’ said Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry head Kate Carnell. Minerals Council of Australia chief Brendan Pearson agreed, saying: ‘The removal of the world's biggest carbon tax is an important step towards regaining the competitive edge that Australia lost over the last decade’, according to AFP.