Climate change won't be solved with a negative attitude

Understandably, Abbott has failed to gain the support of economists for his people-pay-the-polluters Direct Action plan. In addition, according to an Essential Research poll last week, only 15 per cent of the public support the Coalition's proposal, while 60 per cent think the best way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to tax the big polluters, which is the Government's plan.

Mechanisms aside, Tony Abbott has attempted to paint a false reality that Australia would be out on a ledge by taking action on climate change. It flies in the face of the Productivity Commission report released last month that found that Australia is in the middle of the pack when it comes to current expenditure on efforts to reduce carbon pollution and significantly behind the UK and Germany.

In fact, pricing carbon in Australia will have positive ripple effects internationally. Collaboration through the United Nations is growing and needs countries like Australia to step up and do their fair share.

To step back and look at the bigger picture, this plan marks the beginning of a new political age characterised by planning for the future.

Climate change won't be solved with a negative, won't-do attitude. The reality is we cannot afford to put young people's future in the too hard basket.

It's high time our nation takes a step towards a clean energy economy. The Clean Energy Future plan is a solid platform to work from.