Australia's agricultural spraying operators reckon they have a strong argument for exemption from the recently detailed carbon tax.
The CEO of the Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia (AAAA), Phil Hurst, has distributed an open letter to Prime Minister Gillard which points out the inconsistency of hitting the industry with a carbon impost.
"Aerial application plays a vital role as a direct contributor to agricultural production...," Hurst says. "Given that the carbon package specifically excluded agricultural activities, it is entirely consistent policy for aerial agricultural activities to be exempt from the aviation fuel levy increase.
"The current position creates an inequitable treatment of aviation versus ground agricultural spraying."
And also, "Firebombing is a critical emergency service provided by our sector and the Association also seeks its exemption from the aviation fuel levy increase, along with all other emergency services use of aircraft.
"This is a direct community service, in addition to reducing the carbon release impact of bushfires by combating them efficiently. Aviation is simply not yet in a position to modify its behaviour to reduce its carbon footprint due to the extensive lead times involved in the development and certification of both aviation engines and aviation fuels.
"Put simply, there is no available alternative to continuing to use aviation fuel and aircraft in the current efficient manner. While there are various trials of biofuels around the world, the need for all aviation fuels and engines to be certified means that lead times will be measured in decades.
"As soon as biofuels and engines certified to use them are available, the aviation industry will adopt them, as it has always adopted better technology and greater efficiencies."
It's a simple yet strong argument, but it will struggle to get heard in the tumult of protest being funnelled into Canberra over this issue; simple because the AAAA's voice is small and isolated.
This is yet another example of the price we all pay for the absence of a unified voice for the aviation industry.
This story was first published on www.aviationbusiness.com.au, the website of our sister publication Aviation Business Asia Pacific.