Calling the safeguard mechanism a ‘sneaky carbon tax’ is a scare campaign and an argument for inaction

‘Scott Morrison accusing Labor of planning to introduce a “carbon tax” is election campaign shamelessness on steroids.’ Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Scott Morrison and other government MPs are accusing Labor of planning to introduce a “sneaky carbon tax” by – wait for it – using an existing Coalition policy as it was intended.

Sounds ridiculous, right? Election campaign shamelessness on steroids. But there is a lot going on here and it is worth stepping through it.