CARBON TAX ‘the death knell for F3 – M2 Link’
The imposition of the Gillard Government’s carbon tax could be the death knell for construction of the ‘F3-M2 missing link’.
Federal Member for Berowra Philip Ruddock pointed out that the new carbon tax would add up to 5% more to the cost of building roads due to the increase in the price of construction products. ‘The Master Builders Association has already issued warnings that ‘some roads, schools and hospital projects will simply not go ahead as a result of this ill considered tax.’
‘Given the lack of commitment the Federal Labor Government has already shown towards this vital project by delaying funding for necessary design work, an increase in cost would probably result in it being shelved indefinitely.’
With so much debate raging about the pros and cons of the carbon tax, Mr Ruddock said there were several points he wanted to stress, particularly following the volume of calls he has received at his Electorate Office from locals wanting to understand the issue.
‘First of all, Australia and the rest of the world face a genuine challenge to arrest the growth of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions. This is not in dispute. We also have no disagreement with the target set. The Opposition’s commitment to the 5% reduction in Australia’s emissions is the same as the Government’s.’
‘The debate we need to have is one about the right system for the right time in history, under the right circumstances.’
‘Where is the logic in the action being proposed when the three great emissions sources of the world, China, India and the USA are not about to adopt a carbon tax or equivalent system?’
‘The Gillard carbon tax is actually a tax on electricity and will be ineffective in changing either demand or supply in any meaningful way – unless of course it is done at a radically high level that would cause widespread social damage and deep economic disruption’.
Mr Ruddock explained that as we do not import electricity, prices will inevitably be passed on to every pensioner, every family, every farmer, and every small business owner. ‘We will see a 10% hike in electricity bills and a 9% increase in gas bills in the first year alone.’
Mr Ruddock ended by saying the Opposition will do everything possible to fight ‘this toxic tax.’
“We will oppose it in Opposition and rescind it in government.”