No carbon tax petition
19th September, 2011
Federal Member for Wide Bay, Warren Truss, has released a draft petition calling on Members of the House of Representatives to reject the Gillard Labor Government’s proposed carbon tax.“People everywhere are asking me how they can say no to Labor-The Greens-Independents proposed carbon tax,” Mr Truss said.
“Since the Government’s Parliamentary inquiry into its 19 carbon tax bills will last only for a few days, this petition will provide people with an opportunity to have their say on the tax.”
Mr Truss said that people are frustrated and angry that a carbon tax will be foisted on them, after Julia Gillard categorically ruled out the tax prior to the last election.
“People feel deceived that Julia Gillard broke her promise not to introduce a carbon tax. They are upset that she failed to build a deep and lasting consensus before taking action on climate change as she promised. They are appalled that the Government will shut down its carbon tax inquiry almost as quickly as it started, and they want the opportunity to have their voice heard,” Mr Truss said.
“Labor’s carbon tax will be the harshest of its kind in the world. It will take only one month for Australia’s carbon tax to raise the same amount of money that the limited scheme in the United States has raised since its commencement. It will take four months for Australia’s carbon tax to collect as much money as the European scheme has raised since it began six years ago. The European scheme raises $1 per person per year, whereas Labor’s carbon tax raises more than $400 per person in the first year alone,” Mr Truss said.
The carbon tax is forecast to rise from $23 per tonne at commencement to $130 per tonne in 2050.
“The tax will increase the price of everything. Everyone, every pensioner, family, charity, club, and business will pay the carbon tax as business and industry passes the cost of the tax onto consumers,” Mr Truss said.
“But the tax will achieve nothing for the environment. The Government’s own figures reveal that Australia’s emissions are forecast to rise from 587 million tonnes a year to 621 million tonnes a year by 2020.
“Labor wants to rush its carbon tax legislation through the Parliament with little scrutiny and with no reference to the people. The petition will ensure that the people of Australia’s objection to the tax will be heard.”
A copy of the petition is available from Mr Truss office, telephone 1300 301 968 or 07 4121 2936 or email W.Truss.MP@aph.gov.au
Information about petitions to the House of Representatives is available at http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/petitions/petitions.htm
