Penberthy: Plumbers not tapped in to tax

Sunday Mail (SA) ^ | June 04, 2011 | David Penberthy

[Oztrich Boy]

WE'VE heard plenty about the carbon tax but haven't heard from plumbers, writes David Penberthy.

IN a telling intervention that will change the dynamics of the debate, 13 of the nation's plumbers have spoken out about the controversial carbon tax.

The group of 13 took time out on Friday from digging ditches and unblocking toilets to issue statements about the tax.

The eminent plumbers represent more than two centuries of combined plumbing experience and have worked on hundreds of plumbing jobs across our nation.

It is the first time a group of plumbers has united in commenting on such a seismic public policy issue. Their position can be summarised as follows:

NONE have the faintest bloody idea how the carbon tax will work and generally think the Government is doing what one described as "a shit job" of explaining it.

ALL agree that any increases in their operating costs through fuel or supplies will be passed on to customers.

WITH two exceptions, they all queried the timing and purpose of the tax

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Overall, what conclusions can we draw from the intervention of the group of 13 plumbers? We can probably conclude that the communiques we've seen from eminent economists, senior clergy, and national living treasures such as John Hewson, Malcolm Fraser and Mick Dodson are a useless bit of middle-class posturing.

We can conclude that instead of indulgent symbolic gestures from the political class, people would like some details about how much the tax will cost and how it will operate.

A stunning revelation, and well worth the 13 phone calls. I thank the plumbers for their time.