Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, Federal Member for Flynn, Colin Boyce, and Senator Matthew Canavan have labelled Labor’s Safeguard Mechanism as a new carbon tax on regional Australia that will force job losses.
Last week, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen announced in Gladstone that 215 of Australia’s largest polluters would be required to cut emissions by about 5 per cent each year through to 2030 to help reach its climate targets.
Of the 215 largest industrial facilities, 28 are operating in Capricornia and 18 in Flynn.
Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry said Australians can’t afford an ill-timed tax on energy.
“Australian families are already doing it tough with the current cost-of-living crisis and this hasty decision made by Labor will only increase the pressure they face to make ends meet,” Ms Landry said.
“This announcement by the Labor Government has a more far-reaching affect than just on the companies operating these facilities. It will affect how much you pay to switch a light on; the economies of our mining communities of Capricornia.”
Federal Member for Flynn, Colin Boyce said that Labor’s Safeguard Mechanism is an attack on heavy industry and the thousands of workers that work in the sector.
“Labor’s Safeguard Mechanism targets facilities that emit more than 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. If facilities go over this amount, the business will need to buy carbon credits. As these credits cost money, this is just a new tax on job creating industries.” Mr Boyce said.
“It is a disgrace that Minister Bowen and his Labor colleagues flew into Gladstone to make this job crippling announcement and then jumped onto a plane back to a major city. Why didn’t he speak directly to the workers set to be impacted?”
Senator Matthew Canavan joined his Central Queensland LNP colleagues and said Labor say one thing before an election and another after.
“Before the election, Labor promised that “not a single Australian coal mine will be impacted” by their policy to reduce carbon emissions. After the election, Labor says that “any new gas or coal project would automatically come under the remit of the mechanism,” Senator Canavan said.
“This is another example of the Labor government lying to hard working Australians.”
