110323165457_110323_witn_australia_carbontax

8/2/2019 110323165457_110323_witn_australia_carbontax

1/3

BBC Learning EnglishWords in the News23 rd March 2011

Australians are divided over carbon tax

Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2011Page 1 of 3

bbclearningenglish.com

There have been protests in Australia over government plans to introduce a carbon tax.

People who are against the plans say that if other countries don't introduce a similar tax, it

could have a negative impact on Australian jobs and businesses. Phil Mercer reports.

Protestors say they are just ordinary Australian workers and taxpayers who feel betrayed by

the government's plans to put a price on carbon . They insist it would damage the economyand drive up the cost of living by making energy far more expensive.

Man 1: "There is a ground swell of people that have finally had a gutful ."

Man 2: "Since the Labor government has come into this country, the union rules. We just

cannot do it anymore. We have no more money left to pay the taxes."

Reporter: The demonstrators have the support of the conservative opposition leader, Tony

Abbott. He says that without a global carbon pricing agreement, Australian businesses would be less competitive:

Tony Abbott: "A one-sided carbon tax, a unilateral carbon tax is an act of economic self-

harm."

Woman: "Here we have 12,000 signatures supporting action on climate change."

Man 3: "12,000. Fantastic."

Reporter: Supporters of the tax believe it will cut pollution in Australia, which is one of the

world's worst per capita emitters of greenhouse gases, and will also encourage the

development of a low-carbon economy.

The Prime Minister Julia Gillard says that opposition won't derail the plan:


2/3



Julia Gillard: "Now, I understand there's always going to be a variety of views in the

community. We'll see that on display today, but pricing carbon is the right thing for our

nation's future and that's why I am determined to do it."

Reporter: The Prime Minister hopes to bring in a tax on carbon next year, before introducingan emissions trading scheme as early as 2015. She insists that without these key economic

reforms, Australia will be left behind by its international competitors.

Phil Mercer, BBC News, Sydney


3/3



Vocabulary and definitions

betrayed hurt by someone who you believed supported you and your

ideas

carbon here, fossil fuels such as coal, petrol and natural gas; they

produce carbon dioxide when burned and this damages the

environment

drive up force to rise or increase

a ground swell fast growth or shift (of opinion)

had a gutful had enough of, or become fed up with the situation

union trade union, an organisation representing workers, which

tries to achieve common goals

unilateral one-sided, not agreed by everybody involved in a debate

per capita per person

emitters producers

emissions here, harmful gases which are released into the air by

burning fossil fuels

More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12828054

Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/03/110323_witn_australia_carbontax_page.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12828054http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/03/110323_witn_australia_carbontax_page.shtmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/03/110323_witn_australia_carbontax_page.shtmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12828054

Documents

110323165457_110323_witn_australia_carbontax