Australia is the world’s biggest polluter per head of population and we have just agreed to repeal the carbon tax – for ‘savings’ that we are never actually likely to see on our electricity bills.

When the carbon tax started in 2012, we were one of 40 jurisdictions to enforce it and now we are the only one to have reversed it. The Wall Street Journal said Australia’s decision could have international consequences ahead of global climate talks to be held in Paris next year. Many in the US are (and have been) pushing for a carbon tax to become law there for a while and see Australia’s repeal as a step backwards.

“I thought it was a good law, and it’s disappointing that they decided that rather than being a leader, they’d be a laggard, rather than deal with climate change,” said Rep. Henry Waxman, a US environmentalist.

Britain has also said that Australia has gone from ‘climate leader to no plan at all.’

“The repeal of Australia’s carbon price is a tragedy, not a triumph,” said Michael Raupach, Director, Climate Change Institute, Australian National University. “It flies in the face of three giant realities: human-induced climate change, the proper role of government as a defender of the common good, and the emerging quiet energy-carbon revolution.”

It has been reported that the repeal will save people between 20c and 50c per day on their electricity bills – however many electricity companies have already started announcing annual price increases for things like network charges. NSW company Ausgrid wants to implement a 2% increase each year for 5 years while TransGrid wants a 4% increase. South Australians are set to pay an extra $85 a year on their electricity bills while us here in Queensland have already been hit with a 13.6% price rise this month.

If any savings were to be had – the charges far out-way them.