October 12, 2011
The Gillard Government has completed the first step of its betrayal of regional communities after its ‘carbon tax’ legislation today passed the floor of the House of Representatives.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester voted against the legislation and said the carbon tax would threaten jobs in regional areas and increase the cost of living for all Australian households. The legislation was supported by the Greens and Independent MPs and will now go to the Senate for further debate and a vote.
Mr Chester said the overwhelming majority of Gippslanders were opposed to the tax and felt betrayed by the Prime Minister’s refusal to give voters a chance to express their view at a Federal election.
“The Labor Party, Independents and the Greens have refused to listen to the legitimate concerns of regional Australians who are strongly opposed to this tax,” Mr Chester said.
“In Gippsland, 76 per cent of people who responded to my community survey were opposed to the tax because they were worried about the impact on local jobs, the increase in household bills and making Australian exporters less competitive.”
Mr Chester said the Prime Minister made a fundamental breach of trust when she declared ‘there will be no carbon tax under a government I lead’ before the last election.
“The Prime Minister should have kept her side of the deal and honoured her solemn contract with the Australian people,” Mr Chester said.
“If this government had an ounce of decency it would give voters a chance to express their view at the ballot box prior to introducing the carbon tax.”
Mr Chester said it was a Labor Party myth that the carbon tax would only be paid by the so-called ‘500 biggest polluters’.
“The carbon tax will cascade through the economy like a toxic waterfall and increase the cost of living for every Australian family. It will hurt small businesses, it will make Australian exporters less competitive and it will cost jobs,” Mr Chester said.
“Jobs in our traditional industries like power generation, manufacturing, small business and agriculture are all under threat by the introduction of this tax.
“People don’t want a household assistance package. They want the decency of a job and security for their family but the Gillard Government has failed to provide it.”