The Labor/Greens carbon tax will drive up prices, threaten jobs and do nothing for the environment, Federal Member for Wright Scott Buchholz said today.
Australias forgotten families are already struggling and the carbon tax will make a bad situation worse with a $515 a year hit on their cost of living. And thats just for starters.
The people of Queensland will pay more for everything under Julia Gillards carbon tax the biggest and most punitive carbon tax in the world.
The carbon tax means:
· a $9 billion a year new tax.
· a 10% hike in electricity bills in the first year alone.
· a 9% percent hike in gas bills in the first year alone.
· higher marginal tax rates for low and middle income earners.
· a $4.3 billion hit on the budget bottom line.
Millions of middle income families will be worse off under Julia Gillards carbon tax. For example, a policeman and a nurse each earning $70,000 a year with one dependent child will be on average $230 a year worse off even after compensation.
Should this couple do some extra shifts and each earn an extra $5000 a year, that bill will increase to $528. These parents, trying to get ahead and provide for their families, will be penalised by Julia Gillards carbon tax, Mr Buchholz said.
With the tax set to increase in the coming years things will only get worse. The people of Wright are already struggling under increasing cost of living pressures. Under Julia Gillards carbon tax, households and businesses will be hit yet again.
Mr Buchholz said local businesses like AJ Bush and Sons which employs more than 100 local residents will see their costs skyrocket by over $620,000 a year.
People know just how important local companies like this are to the region. The impact of Julia Gillards carbon tax on our local community would be devastating.
Whats more, the carbon tax will do nothing for the environment. According to the Governments own figures, Australias emissions are still going to increase from 578 million tonnes to 621 million tonnes. That leaves an abatement shortfall of 100 million tonnes which is going to have to be met by purchasing carbon credits from overseas.
What that means is that Australian businesses are going to have to spend more than $3 billion a year buying carbon credits from abroad.
The simple fact of the matter is that Julia Gillard has betrayed the Australian people. Six days prior to the last election, she said there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead. The day before the election she said I rule out a carbon tax. The Australian people deserve a say on the carbon tax. It should not be introduced before the next election.
Instead, weve got probably the most incompetent government in Australias history, trying to implement the one of the most complicated structural economic changes in history. Having made a complete mess of pink batts, school halls, border protection, fuel watch, grocery watch, computers in schools and the live cattle industry, Australians simply cant trust this government to get it right.
There is a better way. The Coalitions Direct Action plan is a strong and effective policy that will reduce carbon emissions by 5% by 2020 without a new tax. Our Direct Action plan is costed, capped and fully funded from savings to the budget. Direct Action means no costs to households, no new taxes, and no increase in electricity prices as a result of the policy.
The Coalitions commitment to the Australian people is that we will do everything in our power to fight this toxic tax. The Coalition will oppose it in opposition and rescind it in government. There must be no carbon tax without a mandate.
ENDS
Media contact: Martin Kennedy 07 5541 0150
