Cash splash won’t mask pain of Labor’s carbon tax
21st June, 2012
The release of the latest carbon tax cash compensation payments by the Gillard Labor Government will do little to mask the impact of the carbon tax price rises Federal Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss said today.“The world’s biggest carbon tax will start in just over a week. It will do enormous harm to the household budgets of families and retirees, but nothing to help the environment,” Mr Truss said.
“The Government boasts about its ‘cash for you’ payments, but the Government’s own Budget reveals that it is a ‘debt for kids’ cash advance.
“The cash payments made to households this week are paid for with borrowed money. The children who are supposed to be benefiting from the payments this week will be paying back the debt throughout their working life.
“Under Labor, Australia has seen the $70 billion investments made by the former Liberal and National Parties Coalition Government spent - and replaced with a $142 billion debt.
“The best thing we can do for Australia is to build a strong economy and not burden the next generation with debt,” Mr Truss said.
“Labor’s ‘cash for you’ payment has nothing to do with household budgets or helping families. It has everything to do with Labor trying to paper over the impact of the world’s biggest carbon tax which is now days away.”
Mr Truss said no amount of debt funded cash payments can hide the impact of the carbon tax.
“Labor’s debt will have to be paid back, with interest, impeding the delivery of services and infrastructure for a generation,” Mr Truss said.
“Labor’s carbon tax will drive up electricity prices, and the price of everything, costing jobs and harming the economy. It will do nothing for the environment, as emissions will rise from 578 million tonnes in 2012 to 621 million tonnes in 2020.
“From next week, households will experience bill shock as the carbon tax drives up electricity prices to new highs — and as the carbon tax goes up and up, the pressure on household budgets and prices will go up and up.
“The Liberal and National Parties will seek a mandate at the next election to rescind the Labor’s carbon tax. Rescinding the carbon tax will be the first order of business for the next Coalition Government.”
