Greg Combet is accusing Tony Abbott of promoting- get this- a white carbon policy. Tony is a racist it seems because he doesn't approve of us sending billions of dollars overseas to purchase carbon offsets over which we have no oversight.

In the fine print of the carbon tax policy is the interesting detail that half of the gazillions of dollars raised in higher taxes on electricity, food and everything else we consume will be sent overseas. We will be purchasing carbon offests because we won't be able to generate enough in Australia. Carbon permits can be bought in Russia or Nigeria or anywhere that claims to have a carbon scheme in place.

So we are taxing our biggest companies for being big companies, putting them at a huge disadvantage internationally, and then we send much of the money raised overseas. And to criticise this makes you racist?

I went to school with Greg Combet and spent many lunch-times playing handball. I think he had more maturity thirty-five years ago.

From the ABC:

Combet accuses Abbott of climate change racism 

Federal Climate Change Minister Greg Combet has accused Opposition Leader Tony Abbott of having a racist climate change policy.

Mr Abbott has warned that Australian businesses buying carbon permits under an emissions trading scheme could be conned by unscrupulous international traders.

The Government plans to introduce its carbon tax legislation to Parliament by the end of September and hopes to have it passed by next year.

Mr Combet described Mr Abbott's position as "economic xenophobia" in an address to the National Press Club.

"It sends the signal that it's somehow dubious to trade with foreigners. It's typical dog-whistle politics, trashing the commitment that's existed for many years on both sides of politics to economic liberalisation and open trade," he said.

"It is in effect a white carbon policy designed to harvest more votes no matter what the cost."

As they say, you couldn't make this stuff up.