News Article

Govt has shown 'arrogance, hypocrisy' with carbon tax

06/06/2012 - The coalition has accused the federal government of "breathtaking arrogance" for ignoring community opposition to the carbon tax and vowing to block any attempt to repeal it.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard vowed in November, when the package passed parliament, that Labor would work with the Greens to stop the tax being axed.
 
Climate Change Minister Greg Combet on Tuesday reconfirmed that commitment, in the face of a Lowy poll that suggests 63 per cent of Australians are opposed to a fixed price on carbon.
 
However, opposition climate spokesman Greg Hunt says the coalition, if elected to government, would work to repeal the carbon tax from its first day in office.
 
"We will do it with or without the ALP," Hunt told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.
 
"For the ALP to say that they have no respect for the mandate of the people in what will be a referendum on the carbon tax is breathtaking hypocrisy."
 
Hunt said Labor's refusal to acknowledge the Lowy poll was arrogant.
 
"It's breathtaking arrogance and breathtaking hypocrisy.
 
"No matter what the Australian people say the Australian Labor Party is going to ignore them."
 
Labor's tough stance means if the opposition doesn't win a majority in the Senate at the next poll it would have to call a double dissolution to repeal the carbon price.
 
Hunt said repealing the legislation would not be as arduous as the government had claimed.
 
"It's not difficult... anything the parliament makes it can unmake."
 
"If the ALP respects the will of the people it will be done, dusted and gone within six months.
 
"If not we'll do it well within 12 months."

Source: AAP
Browse the IndustrySearch directory: Business Finance & Insurance
Have your say...
alan | 6/06/2012 10:34 1
Labor you thought the Queensland result was bad, well guess what, you ain't seen nothing yet. Just keep going with the spin dribble and nonsense
Pat | 6/06/2012 12:55 2
The really BIG problem, is that the Liberal party aren't offering themselves as a viable alternative. I like Tony Abbott, I admire his forthright attitude and apparent basic honesty/integrity. BUT, I'm not sure he's the brightest bulb in the house, and his penchant for shooting from the lip, is a serious liability. And I would have difficulty in voting for him to be Prime Minister of our country. Thats the simple fact of it. BUT,,,,,,I'd rather him than this feral pack of rabid socilaist liars which is what the labour party has come to represent itself to be. Their blatant denigeration of high profile Australians in an attempt to polarise our nation and foster a class war as the only means of holding onto power, disgusts me. And the recent announcements relating to Queensland mining approvals is a typical case in point. Get them outta here, I dont want African gutter style politics here in Australia. Grow up. The Labour party owes all Australians a huge apology for what its done and the shameful way it has gone about its business.
Lou Furbadamo | 7/06/2012 01:07 3
As Iv'e suggested before, if the “elite Coalition thinkers” and true conservatives are concerned about political cynicism and the impact of crippling taxes on economic activity and productivity. Rather than over state the case against Carbon Tax. Be more outspoken about the “Big Daddy” crippler of them all! The economic super dampener GST? Which insidiously far more adversely handicaps the economy and lasting future recovery than any other tax. Regardless that it’s been up and running since July 2000. The earlier boom economic conditions meant it only started to bite badly since the GFC, when all the sick chooks came home to roost and lament. The problem for Abbott in denial, is that his party introduced what now bars him from credibility in his carbon tax debate unless he also tackles the obvious far bigger ticking problem. The undeniable absurdity and embarrassment for Abbott, is that his “trusty” opportunistic mentor, Johnny Wayward himself, deceptively introduced it after expressing initial disgust for such an un Liberal and un Australian, Labour Party inspired tax. And emphatically had stated that “the GST would never become part of Liberal Party policy"! The little back peddling, lying, fatherly hypocrite. We clearly now know, who also mentored Gillard to utter her infamous "there will be NO carbon TAX under a government I lead". And now in a world of lies we only seem to hear one eyed agitation and disgust about the sins “Juliar”. Forget the fact that Liberals and democraps also painfully shafted the Australian public when they imposed their tax noose! I’d suggest that if Wayward conceded being wrong on his first assessment of GST, Abbott should now realise or accept suggestion that he was more disastrously wrong on his second geriatric pass that implemented it. and so it now bequeaths him or Gillard to fix it? Finally It appears from polls that while negative Tony foolishly procrastinates in his policy vacuum and inaction. Others, may be strategically active behind the scenes, concurring with my earlier dissatisfaction and re-proposing the presumed better qualified, high flying, fellow stable mate replacement. The more slickly, popular and impressive “Wentworth Aristokid”!, who I’d put my money on as a better past the poll bet! and potential beater of currently undefeated champ, formerly red, Now fashionably “Black Juliar”.
Graeme Hodder | 7/06/2012 17:09 4
It never ceases to amaze me how so many voters in this great country "play the man and not the ball" when it comes to electing a government to run the country. It is a tragedy that so many voters can't see the bigger picture and vote for what is best for the country rather than what is best for themselves at election time. If more voters read more, researched more and thought more about this, without the personal prejudices of certain politicians, then perhaps we could avoid situations like this last election, where we have a hung parliament and the most disfunctional and incompetent bunch of fools in our political history. Focus on the Party and their policies, not on their Leader and personalities. Should Tony Abbott become PM and he fails to deliver, he will be replaced. What voters should be focusing on is how the out of control spending and foreign debt will impact on all Australians, after this circus comes to end in 18 months time.
We welcome thoughtful comments from readers
Comment Guidelines

The approval of your comment is at the discretion of this article's publisher. Write your comment with the following in mind to ensure the highest likelihood of it being approved:
- No promotional undertones
- No use of profanity
- Good spelling, grammar and layout
- Check punctuation, language and missing words
- No use of aggression
- No unsubstantiated claims

We reserve the right to remove comments at our discretion.
Your name is used alongside Comments.
Name:
Email:
Your Comment:
Confim Text: captcha img
Reload characters
Type the characters you see in this box. This helps us prevent automated programs from sending spam.
Related News News icon