STATEMENT

Reports today regarding new Reputex modelling and Labor’s carbon tax, the Safeguard Mechanism, send a clear message to Chris Bowen: axe the tax.

According to Reputex’s inaugural Australian Climate Scenarios Outlook, the carbon tax must get higher in order for Australia to reach Labor’s unrealistic climate targets.

Chris Bowen must resist this siren song.

Labor’s punitive carbon tax is slugging our shrinking industrial base with yet another cost burden, making Australia a less competitive place to do business, sending jobs and investment offshore.

The real cost of Labor’s carbon tax can be seen in the spate of bailouts under Labor – the recently bailed-out Tomago Aluminium is subject to this punishing tax regime.

Only a Coalition Government can responsibly lower emissions and deliver cheaper power.

Announced yesterday, our plan to unlock new gas supply through State Energy Deals is an example of our commitment to an energy abundance policy that includes unlocking our critical resources, lifting the ban on nuclear energy and remaining technology agnostic.

The Government’s recently announced review into the Safeguard Mechanism is not needed, because Labor’s carbon tax should be scrapped altogether.

ENDS

Media contact: Phil Connole M | 0417 063 605