JULIA GILLARD’S UNNECESSARY AND COSTLY $9 BILLION TAX WILL HIT FAMILIES IN THE NORTH

“The Labor/Greens carbon tax will drive up prices, threaten jobs and do nothing for the environment,” Federal Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch said today.

“Australia’s 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 that’s just for starters. The people of Leichhardt will pay more for everything under Julia Gillard’s carbon tax – the biggest and most punitive carbon tax in the world,” Mr Entsch said.
 
The carbon tax means:
– a $9 billion a year new tax.
– a 10% hike in electricity bills in the first year alone. And that’s just for starters.
– a 9% percent hike in gas bills in the first year alone. And that’s just for starters.
– 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 Gillard’s 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. And that’s just for starters.”

“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 Gillard’s carbon tax,” Mr Entsch said.

“This go-it-alone carbon tax will also impose a heavy cost on Australian industries that their overseas competitors will not face. Australian jobs will be sent offshore for no environmental gain. It will push up the price of electricity, gas, transport and food. Small businesses in the Far North will face increased costs, with no direct support.”

“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,” he said.

“There is a better way. The Coalition’s 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 Coalition’s 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,” Mr Entsch concluded.