"Of the industrialised countries we are unusual in producing a...

"Of the industrialised countries we are unusual in producing a large proportion of the worlds minerals without nuclear power. I don't see how we can compete as a mineral producer with a carbon cost and a nuclear ban when our competitors have neither."

Yes, it's ironic that if we took the hard line necessary to reduce CO2 by significant amounts along the lines of what say the Greens want, we effectively have to destroy most of our wealth creating industries to the point it would bankrupt this country. Of course Rudd knows this as has no intention of doing it. Yet, he is pushing the ETS that in theory would lead to the same end. So, how does one reconcile this contradiction? Simple. He never really expects the ETS do achieve anything - it's just pure rhetoric similar to the Kyoto Protocol. The ETS is just an exercise to give Rudd brownie points. He has no intention of reducing our CO2 emission enough to make a difference because it's impossible to do so unless draconian action is taken.