HAWKESBURY RESIDENTS BETRAYED BY GILLARD LABOR GOVERNMENT
03-March-2011
Louise Markus MP, Federal Member for Macquarie, said Hawkesbury residents have been betrayed by the Gillard Labor Government with the introduction of a carbon tax that will drive up the cost of living.
“The Coalition has a strong plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. We would create from the budget a $1 billion a year fund to pay for tree planting, soil improvement and technological innovations that would reduce emissions. Under the Coalition there will be no carbon tax to Hawkesbury residents,” said Mrs Markus.
“The Gillard Labor Government has no mandate for a carbon tax. It is a tax attack on Hawkesbury residents that is designed to drive up the cost of living. The carbon tax is a breach of faith with all Australians,” said Mrs Markus.
The Gillard Labor Government has refused to rule out a carbon tax on petrol which could add as much as 6.5 cents a litre to the cost of petrol. This would be on top of the carbon tax’s impact on power bills which the Australian Industry Group has predicted would go up by $300 a year thanks to carbon pricing alone.
“Before the last election Julia Gillard said, ‘there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead’. The day before the election the Prime Minister ruled out a carbon tax. Julia Gillard deliberately misled the Australian people at the last election, she has betrayed Australians, her promises are hollow, and she cannot be trusted on anything,” said Mrs Markus.
The Gillard Labor Government’s announcement of a carbon tax followed the December quarter inflation figures which revealed the intense cost of living pressures being faced by families in the Hawkesbury.
“The big increases in the December quarter were in essential food items such as fruit – up a staggering 15.5% in the quarter – and vegetables – up a massive 11.4%. Over the year there were big increases in water and sewerage (12.8%), electricity (12.5%), gas (7.1%) and education (5.7%).
“These are goods and services which Hawkesbury families cannot do without and families are struggling to make ends meet. The added financial pressure of a carbon tax, threatens huge cost hikes, job losses and a massive attack on small business. The Coalition will oppose it in opposition and rescind it in government,” Louise Markus said.