Tony Windsor (New England, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister and relates to the need to introduce an emissions-trading scheme by 2010, the current explosion in world oil prices and the consequent impacts on consumers and the Australian economy. Prime Minister, given that the market is delivering the same economic and efficiency signals to motorists as the fuel excise was partly intended to do, would you consider, as part of your plan of action, referring existing fuel taxation arrangements and proposed emissions-trading fuel charges to the Henry taxation review with a view to downsizing the current fuel excise to such a level to cover road construction, maintenance and air pollution costs but not the consolidated revenue collection component of the existing excise? Prime Minister, would it not be more pertinent to have a fuel taxation policy that sends transparent messages in relation to greenhouse gas emissions and road maintenance rather than just adding to the pre-climate-change taxation system we currently have?

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