Karen McNamara (Dobell, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. I remind the Deputy Prime Minister that Wyong Shire Council in my electorate faces a bill of close to $5 million this year, growing to $10 million in coming years, because of Labor's carbon tax. Will the minister outline how axing this tax will assist local governments to deliver better roads and essential services?

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for Dobell for her question. When local government is assembling in Canberra for their national convention—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler will desist.

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

it is particularly relevant that we should talk about the impact of the carbon tax on councils right across the country. The example of Wyong Council, sadly, is repeated right across the nation. The carbon tax is impacting on councils, and therefore raising the cost of rates, right across the nation. At every level the councils are hit with carbon tax, in everything they do. There are a number of indirect costs, such as higher electricity costs, as a direct result of the carbon tax. Indeed, as I understand from Treasury modelling of the council's costs at Wyong, electricity costs are between $3.4 million and $4.2 million higher as a result of Labor's carbon tax.

Then, of course, because Labor plans to increase the carbon tax every year, in just 15 days time all of those costs will go up. They will keep going up and up and up if Labor have their way. They want an increasing carbon tax to add more burden and more pain to Australia's ratepayers. It affects directly, also, those councils like Wyong that have a significant garbage disposal facility.

Mr Bowen interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for McMahon.

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Buttonderry Waste Management Facility in that region is already having to pay the carbon tax because of the emissions it generates. As a result—

Mr Perrett interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Moreton will desist.

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

the waste management rates in Wyong are $22 higher, already, than they ought to be as a result of Labor's carbon tax. And they will keep going up.

Every time the council goes out to grade a road, or to build a new road, or even to mow the grass on the median strip, Labor's carbon tax is there adding to the costs of all those people who are involved. All those people are affected.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Deputy Prime Minister will resume his seat. The member for Grayndler on a point of order.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order on relevance. In order to be relevant, the minister has to indicate what the increased price of his new petrol tax hike will be.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will resume his seat. There is no point of order. It is a wide-ranging question. The Deputy Prime Minister has the call.

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I appreciate that the honourable member is embarrassed about the way in which Labor is imposing unnecessary costs on the ratepayers of Australia.

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Gorton will desist.

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If Labor had its way we would be debating in the parliament today legislation to spread the carbon tax's net to also cover road transport fuels, adding more and more to the imposition of costs that councils have to bear. The reality is we have been elected with a mandate to get rid of this tax, to get rid of this imposition on rates, to get rid of this cost on ratepayers. Labor should recognise that mandate, join us in the Senate to make sure that this tax is repealed and let local government get on with its job.