Call for fuel carbon tax strengthens

The plummeting price of fuel in Australia has sparked calls for it to be subject to a carbon tax when emissions trading starts in 2010. The federal government has proposed exempting petrol from emissions trading in July, when the average petrol price was A$1.65 (US$1.12) a liter. The petrol price in cities has sunk to A$1.12 (US$0.76) a liter and some analysts predict it will fall below A$1 (US$0.68). Green groups say it’s not fair for petrol to get a free ride under emissions trading, while other fuels such as natural gas have to pay. (November 21, 2008)