Australia congratulated for setting emission tax of one tonne of CO2

The European Commissioner for Climate Action, ConnieHedegaard, today congratulated the Government of Australiahave decided to set up from July 1, 2012 a tax on emission of one ton of carbon dioxide.

"I applaud Australia for its commitment to put a price onemissions (carbon dioxide) carbon and introduce emissionstrading scheme starting in July 2015," he said in a statement.

"Our emissions trading system (in Europe) has led the industrymore aware to establish ways of working very creative and innovative solutions that help reduce emissions and reducing costs," he said.

This creativity, he stressed, can also develop skills and experience in the industries of the future.

"We want Australia to walk in the same direction and convert thecarbon market in the center of their political response to climate challenge the carbon market," he said.

Australia's Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, today announced a taxof 17.3 euros for the emission of one ton of carbon dioxide fromJuly 1, 2012.

About 500 companies, considered the largest polluters in Australia, will face this tax proposed by the Executive, whichalready won enough votes to be approved soon by the Australian Parliament.

This measure aims to reduce 160 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

The tax will increase by 2.5 percent in real terms until July 2015when it enters into force in Australia an emissions trading scheme in the market to regulate prices.

Sydney now seventh most expensive city

SYDNEY is now the seventh most expensive place to live in the world, a report says.

Oslo, Zurich, Geneva, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Tokyo are the only cities with higher living costs, according to financial services firm UBS.

The rankings, published in the annual Prices and Earnings report update today, are calculated by comparing the cost of an average "shopping basket" of 122 goods and services.

It's not all bad news for Sydneysiders, because with high living costs come higher wages, UBS found.

Sydney finished second in a table ranking the domestic buying power of its citizens. This ranking is calculated by comparing wages in each location with living costs.

In 2010 Sydney was 12th on the list of most expensive cities and in 2009 it was 38th.

"To some extent this development can be explained by the Australian dollar's continued appreciation against both the US dollar and the euro.

"Sydney continues its storm to the top of our rankings, now holding seventh place," the latest UBS report said.

"However, Sydney is just one of many cities that have seen a jump in their rankings."

UBS found some US cities had fallen in the cost of living rankings, with New York slumping to 14th, if property rental is excluded.

In recent years New York has been ranked in the top 10 of the most expensive cities.

"This can be attributed to the general depreciation of the US dollar versus the world's other currencies," the UBS report added.

London slumped to 15th place on the list, compared with 10th in 2010.

Sydney is the only Australian city included in the latest UBS rankings.

Bad call: Telstra accused of bullying over non-payments

TELSTRA has been accused of harassing and bullying customers over unpaid bills, with relentless barrages of automatic calls every two hours.

One man too sick to pay his bill said the telecommunications giant called him about seven times a day from 7am, with an automated message demanding he organise payment of his account.

Former Telstra customer Gary Duffy said he was harassed non-stop after medical complications from a heart operation left him struggling to afford basics like rent and food.

"They were just constantly, constantly ringing and it's just an absolute nightmare," he said.

Mr Duffy, who has suffered repeated strokes and seizures since his operation, said the deluge of calls and letters every two or three days pushed him to the verge of a breakdown.

"It's almost like someone knocking on your door every hour saying, 'Hey, you've got to pay this bill'," Mr Duffy said. "If it was an ex-partner ringing you all the time, you could take them to court and have them stopped but apparently with Telstra they think they're above everything."

Mr Duffy said he had relied on his phone in case of a medical emergency but had been afraid to turn it on because of the calls.

He had abandoned using a phone at all until a friend bought him a pre-paid phone as a gift on Friday.

Internet users have also expressed outrage over the automated calling tactics, with some worried that scammers could replicate the calls to obtain personal details from unsuspecting customers.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission guidelines recommend companies do not contact a debtor more than three times a week.

Consumer group Choice spokeswoman Ingrid Just said the frequency of Telstra's automated calling seemed "excessive".

"The telco obviously needs to recoup their debt (but) should be using all channels, not just one," Ms Just said.

She said customers who felt harassed as a result of such calls should tell the company involved.

A Telstra spokeswoman confirmed the telco used automated calling for debt recovery but said the system allowed customers to opt to organise payment of their bill or speak to a consultant in order to stop the calls.

She said many customers had given positive feedback on the system.

YOUR RIGHTS

* A debt collector should only contact you when it is necessary and reasonable.

* Contact should be limited to a maximum of three phone calls or letters a week.

* Debt collectors must not frighten, intimidate or embarrass debtors.

* They must not talk about your situation to other people, including family. ACCC, ASIC