Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak today in support of repealing all of the carbon tax measures. These measures are affecting our community, our society and individual families. In fact, no-one escapes it each and every day. The previous speaker said he is against repealing the carbon tax because he wants to be able to say to his daughter that he stood firm. I accept that wholeheartedly. But the same member has voted to support massive levels of debt which will also affect his children, and his children's children for generations to come, unless action is taken.

In speaking to these carbon tax repeal bills today, it is time to commence action. I rise today to tell Labor that it's time, to use one of their old slogans. I rise today to represent the unemployed in my area and ask Labor to assist them. I rise today to represent those who are affected by the increased costs of living caused by this carbon tax. I ask Labor to support them today. There is no difference between the outcomes that the coalition seek in reducing our carbon emissions and those that the Labor Party seek. We have a common objective, a common agenda, to reduce emissions. Our intention on that is as solid as it can be, albeit our method of approach will be vastly different.

I say to the Labor Party: it is time to listen to what your constituents have said. There can be no doubt whatsoever that at the last election the overwhelming verdict of the people was to get rid of the carbon tax and all its measures. By repealing this carbon tax we will be putting $550 back into the pocket of the average Australian family. I have sat here and listened to members of the opposition talk about costs of living, the effects on pensions, the effects on the unemployed, the effects on those on low incomes and the effects on families, but I say in all sincerity that it is hypocritical, to say the least, to plead the effects on individuals if when they have the opportunity to address that and provide relief they refuse to step up to the plate and do what is required.

It has now been over nine months since the election. For nine months the Labor Party, in cohorts with the Greens, have been blocking this key election commitment made by the coalition and the verdict delivered by the Australian people. The promises we made to the people are clear, are irrevocable and need to be delivered. A mandate was delivered. It can also be argued that in the second Senate election in Western Australia that the people gave a clear mandate to get rid of the carbon tax and the mining tax, which we will be debating later today. It is clear. It is not clouded. It is irrefutable.

Clearly, as I said, once these bills go through energy costs for a household will fall by $550 a year on average. We have already seen electricity companies talking about not putting the carbon tax on their bills from 1 July in anticipation of the repeal of these insidious taxes that were brought to this House on the basis of a lie. We are not alone in wanting to get rid of the carbon tax. Earlier I talked about hypocrisy—running out to the media and saying one thing and then coming into the House and doing another thing. Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the member for Port Adelaide said at a press conference on 16 July 2013, ahead of the election:

The Government has decided to terminate the carbon tax to help cost-of-living pressures for families and to reduce costs for small business.

On that point alone I say to members opposite: live up to your commitment made prior to the last election and get rid of the carbon tax—or is it the same quality of commitment as that made to the people by the former Prime Minister when she said, 'There will be no carbon tax under a government I lead'? Going into the 2010 election the Prime Minister indicated that there was going to be no carbon tax—hand over heart; genuine commitment: 'There will be no carbon tax under a government I lead.' Going into the last election then Prime Minister Rudd and the now shadow environment minister, Mark Butler, said on 16 July:

The Government has decided to terminate the carbon tax …

If they decided to terminate it, why have they changed their minds now? Why is it that now that they are in opposition they have changed their minds? The member for Port Adelaide, Mark Butler, is a repeat offender of telling Australians one thing and then doing another thing here in the parliament. He said at a morning doorstop in this place on 18 November 2013:

The government and opposition are as one. We agree the carbon tax should be terminated by next year.

Today is the day to step up to the plate and be as one. You made the statement. You said something at the doors of parliament and all we hear today is, 'Sorry, but that was yesterday.' Further, on ABC Capital Hill on 17 June 2014—how many days ago was that?—fewer than 10 days ago, he said we should terminate the carbon tax.

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