Unfortunately, John Howard did not remain prime minister long enough to see such a scheme implemented. It fell to the Rudd and Gillard governments to take up the mantle of designing a policy to price the damage done to our environment and economy caused by the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. One of their attempts – the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme – was defeated, let us not forget, by the so-called Greens party which voted against it despite the support of Malcolm Turnbull and others. Ultimately, however, a Coalition government led by Tony Abbott axed Labor's scheme. There can be no disputing this record of events. Illustration: Dionne Gain Credit: But, my fellow Australians, history is no straitjacket. As the leader of Australia's great Liberal Party, my message to you today is this: when we know better, we do better. The terrifying and deadly bushfires have marked a turning point in this nation's history. Unprecedented in their timing and ferocity, these fires have forced us all to look within and accept the reality of a changing climate. Our prayers and thoughts continue to lie with the many Australians who have lost their homes, their livelihoods and their loved ones.

But the time has come to turn thoughts into action. Today, I am proud to announce my government will do just that. Today, we complete the work begun by John Howard all those years ago. Today, I announce a simple "pollution tax", to be applied per tonne of carbon emissions, modelled along the lines of the Canadian government's tax introduced this year. Julia Gillard used weasel words to deny her scheme amounted to a carbon tax. I intend to be upfront with you. What I announce today is a new tax. But as taxes go, it's not a bad one. That was then, this is now ... the then treasurer, Scott Morrison, with a lump of coal during question time in Parliament in February 2017. Credit:Andrew Meares It was the British economist Arthur C. Pigou who first proposed the idea of applying taxes to goods or activities that society has collectively decided it would like to discourage. The beauty of such "Pigouvian taxes" is that they not only change behaviour, they also raise revenue that can be used to cut other taxes. We in the Liberal Party will always be the party of lower taxes, of giving greatest reward for individual effort. And so I am also proud today to announce the biggest package of personal income tax cuts and household payments ever delivered by an Australian government.

For every dollar raised through the pollution tax, I pledge that Australian households will receive a full dollar via a "pollution tax rebate". I personally guarantee that no Australian household will be worse off under our pollution tax and rebate scheme. Families need certainty. So today I announce our pollution rebates will be paid upfront and in advance, starting before Christmas. Thanks to our good budget management, we can afford to send a cheque to every Australian household to spend or save as they see fit. My colleague and Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, will release the details later today. Australian businesses have been calling out for certainty and today I give it to them. Australian households, too, have been calling out for help with skyrocketing power bills. Today I give it to them. My fellow Australians, we will keep your lights on and, in the longer term, we will make power cheaper again by complementing our scheme with increased incentives for alternative energy investment. Now, I know many – even within my party – will doubt these actions. And to them I say: doubt is good. Doubt is the questioning voice that drives better policy. But it lies with us, as leaders and as policymakers, to take action based on our best assessment of the evidence. And Australians know the evidence is in.