Natasha Griggs (Solomon, Country Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

No. The member for Lingiari is going to be letting Territorians down. Domestic emissions under the carbon tax continue to rise. It has completely failed to do the job it set out to do. The previous government's own modelling, which it submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, shows that under the carbon tax our emissions would increase from around 560 million tonnes in 2010 to 637 million tonnes in 2020. It is estimated that the carbon tax will accrue at least $10 billion over two years with domestic emissions not falling but rising. By any measure, this is yet another bungled policy from Labor that was orchestrated by the Greens over there on the crossbenches. It was swallowed up in desperation by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and hung around the neck of all Australians, just to keep Labor in power.

Meanwhile, countries around the world are reducing their emissions through policies that provide direct incentives to adopt new technologies that reduce emissions or improve energy efficiency. The coalition government will focus on measures that will actually cut emissions like reafforestation, cleaning up power stations, cleaning up waste landfill and waste coalmine gas.

The Labor Party would rather burden families and businesses with an economy-wide tax that fails to reduce emissions and sends industry offshore. Around the world, other countries are taking direct-approach initiatives, including direct abatement purchasing; renewable energy targets; energy efficiency measures; appliance, building and vehicle fuel efficiency standards; and measurers in the agriculture, forestry and land sectors. It seems the Labor Party thought they knew best and went directly against the grain and against the advice of industry experts and world leaders. But this is what we are beginning to expect from those on the opposition benches—radical ideas with no community or industry consultation.

I am here to stand against that, to stand up and say no to a tax that is fleecing Territorians of their hard earned money. The member for Lingiari has said that he will not be supporting the removal of the tax. I hope that Senator Peris, who said that she will be standing up for Territorians, will vote with us to axe the tax. Territorians have said to me that they do not want this tax. Senator Peris, stand with me and vote for real change to tackle climate change, with proven measures and real results. Do not stand in the way of a fair go for Territory businesses. Do not stand in the way of jobs like the member for Lingiari is. Do not stand in the way of economic growth. Most of all, do not stand in the way of what Territorians want. They want us to axe the tax so get on board, member for Lingiari.

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