OK, its time for a bit more math, but basically the amount required is pretty much going to be about $1.05. Here’s the facts for you to work with.

The Australian Department of the Treasury has announced that before assistance costs that will trickle down through all the sectors of the economy will cost the average household in Australia (worst case) $860 a year, assuming carbon costs $30/ton in tax.

Using my previous estimates of total emissions upon which the tax is payable results in a massive $10 billion of revenue for the government, and more than cover a compensation program to reduce the $860 a year to pretty much any amount you want, as well as fund appropriate research and investment into long term renewables.

But to be honest, it doesn’t have to be a program that big. Let’s say, for instance, that we set the price not at my previous lowball $15/ton, but rather split the difference between that amount and this whopping big program, and go with a price of $23/ton. This price is relatively familiar to those that have been trading in international carbon markets for the last few years, so it seems like a good balance.

OK, so we raise $7.67 billion in carbon tax at $23/ton, and fund all the good programs I identified previously with about 2/3rds of the money ($5.26 billion) and return the rest ($2.41 billion) to the 8.75 million households in Australia on monthly basis resulting in a net cost to them of $383.25 a year, or $1.05 a day.

And if you won’t kick in $1.05, who will?

I mean, if you have seen the movie reference here, and know the social commentary in it, you will see what a accurately portrayed view of our pathetic existence it is, rather than a near perfect parody using puppets. I believe we will really prove this point, and have a ready made theme song to go with it (on a slightly different theme), and still we won’t be able to get the common user to kick in a buck-o-five to solve a problem when it is almost too late. Frankly, we deserve zombies.

However, on an up note, finally, I am glad to see dolt* get the treatment he deserves on the ABC from Jonathan Holmes, and I am glad I am not the only one that thinks dolt’s bullying should be stood up to. His strawman argument of the cost to Australia versus the actual reduction in temperature that will be seen immediately is as offensive as his views on aboriginals that is currently on trial in Victoria.

* – see, he is already diminishing in importance and doesn’t even rate capitalisation. He’s just another anonymous dolt.