The cartoon refers to massive profits and increased prices by privatised energy forms---in this case British Gas in the UK. Prices of gas have been increased by 35% whilst profits are around $1 billion in the six months. Fuel poverty has become an issue in the UK.

In Australia the reference would be to the public subsidies for the traditional energy companies and the demands for public handouts by the coal mining companies to help them adjust to a warmed up world.

The public handouts go the name of transitional assistance to the polluters, who are demanding lots of cash and creating a lot of hot air about carbon leakage, carbon tariffs and stability of electricity supply. The Rudd Government gives every indication of going real soft on 2020 targets even though Australia is one of the highest per capita polluters in the world.