Events took place yesterday (March 23) in the capital Canberra as well as major cities across the country with 22 different organisations coming together calling themselves the Carbon Sense Coalition.

In February, this year, the Australian government said it would launch a carbon tax from July in 2012 but it has yet to agree on a price per tonne of carbon.

Further demonstrations are also planned for next month with a march in Sydney and other locations from April 2 onwards.

Carbon Sense Coalition chairman, Viv Forbes, said: “This tax on carbon dioxide will have no effect whatsoever on global climate, little effect on the production of carbon dioxide but a large effect on the cost of living and job prospects for Australians.

“This is merely a wealth redistribution scheme where most of the wealth will be consumed on compliance, regulation, red tape, subsidies and price supports for the Climate Change Industry.”

Mrs Gilard said of the protests: “Small groups with loud voices shouldn’t be allowed to derail the action we need to take.

“As the world moves to a lower carbon future, now is the right time for Australia to decide how we secure a clean energy future.”

Luke Walsh

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