MARKUS AND MIRABELLA LISTEN AS LOCAL MANUFACTURERS HAVE THEIR SAY
10-August-2011
Business owners from around Macquarie were able to have their say on the state of manufacturing in our area at a round table discussion held in Windsor on Tuesday.
After visiting a local manufacturer Louise Markus MP, Federal Member for Macquarie joined with Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry and Science, Sophie Mirabella MP and heard that the Carbon Tax is widely opposed by manufacturers in Macquarie.
“It is easy to understand why local businesses are fearful of the Carbon Tax,” Sophie Mirabella said. “We’ve been losing 620 Australian manufacturing jobs a week under this government. The Carbon Tax will only add to this.
“Manufacturing staff everywhere are concerned. I meet people who used to be Labor voters and they can’t believe the government is introducing the Carbon Tax and risking their jobs. They are very angry.”
Those in attendance covered a range of fields, from mining products to water tanks, mobility aids and bicycle manufacturing. The one thing they had in common was concern for their future under the Carbon Tax.
Barbara Porter from Aust Dynamic Technologies said “We have never seen a period of such uncertainty. The Carbon Tax has caused some of the bigger industries we deal with, such concern. Calls from customers looking for information has slowed right down.”
Tony Crozier from PakMor said. “It is hard to know what to do, prices keep going up. Our electricity prices keep rising and this will get worse under the Carbon Tax. I can’t afford to pay the cost so I need to pass it on. I sell my products to retailers. If they have to pay more they will just charge more for milk and other groceries. Everyone ends up paying for the Carbon Tax.
Trent Fitzgibbon from JetBlack Cycling, and others in attendance agreed.
“What hope has a person like me got,” Trent said. “It feels like I am better off sacking my 20 staff, manufacturing offshore and just exporting to other countries and forgetting about Australia. They make it so hard to do business here.
Whilst the main issue facing manufacturers in the Hawkesbury is the Carbon Tax other issues were also raised as a concern including the high level of red tape and bureaucracy Australian businesses have to deal with and the difficulties in competing with online retailers.
Louise Markus MP commented that the message from Macquarie Manufacturers was loud and clear.
“Businesses in Macquarie do not want and cannot afford the Carbon Tax,” Mrs Markus said. “I spend a lot of time meeting with business owners’ right across the electorate and the message is clear. Labor needs to axe this tax.
“The Coalition will make life simpler for manufacturing companies by reducing the corporate tax rate to 28.5%, cutting the government’s reckless and wasteful spending to reduce the pressure on interest rates, maintain support for incentives for business research and development activities in Australia and by revising government purchasing and procurement rules.
“It was great for so many manufacturers to attend the discussion. The most important part of my job is listening to what the community wants and ensuring they have a voice in Federal Parliament. Along with my Coalition colleagues I will keep fighting until the Prime Minister listens to everyday Australians and upholds her pledge of there being no Carbon Tax under the Government she leads.”