You've just made a LOT of new friends

Gong for the most blindingly obvious statement about the carbon [dioxide] tax goes to Lara Giddings, who tactlessly speaks the truth when Gillard, Combet et al are spinning their way up their own backsides. No Prime Ministerial Christmas card for you this year, Miss Giddings, methinks:

Tasmania’s Labor Premier Lara Giddings says a carbon tax will push up living costs and unfairly inflict economic pain on her state despite it already having more renewable energy than other states.

The federal government insists its compensation measures will help cushion households from steep price rises.

“You’d have your head in the sand to say there aren’t going to be cost of living increases,” Ms Giddings told ABC Radio on Monday.

“That’s not fair.”

It certainly isn’t, but delusional Combet isn’t having a bar of it:

Federal Climate Change Minister Greg Combet rejected the suggestion, arguing compensation measures for pensioners and low-income households would act as a cushion. [What about the rest of the population? – Ed]

“I don’t expect any significant impact on the overall cost of living out of our carbon price mechanism once we’ve done all our final work [please, my aching sides – Ed]. But, we will ensure that whatever that may be, we will assist households cope with that price impact,” he told reporters on Monday. (source)

Which I guess means they’ll be emitting the same amount of carbon dioxide, then? Total horse-shit, Greg. Sorry. Never thought I’d find myself agreeing with a Labor state premier, but in this case, Lara’s right on the money.