Ann Sudmalis (Gilmore, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment, who has done such a wonderful job. Will the minister update the House on the benefits to jobs and business growth in Gilmore and in Australia from scrapping the world's biggest carbon tax?

Ms Ryan interjecting—

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

The member for Lalor is not in her seat and may not speak at all.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can inform the House that the carbon tax is gone. I want to thank the member for Gilmore because, like every member on this side of the House, she campaigned on a plan to heal the nation's economy and on a pledge to repeal the carbon tax. She and every member of this House have delivered what they planned, what they promised and what they pledged to the Australian people. It is a lesson that the other side might take to heart. It means immediate benefits for business. What have we already heard from business today?

Ms Ryan interjecting—

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

I have already told the member for Lalor that she is not entitled to speak.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let me turn to what the National Farmers' Federation has already said:

Australian agriculture is breathing a sigh of relief now the tax has finally been abolished.

…   …   …

Carbon tax flow-on costs hit Australian farmers every time they paid for essential electricity, fertiliser, chemical and fuel supplies.

It is not just the NFF saying this sort of thing; it is the Australian Industry Group, the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Petroleum and Production Exploration Association, the Cement Industry Federation and the Australian Retailers Association.

But it is not just business that benefits—Australian households are also going to benefit from the abolition of a tax which does not do the job. That is the saddest part—as the opposite know, it was a tax that singularly failed to reduce emissions. What do we know there will be for householders? There will not just be a $550 on-average reduction. The electricity providers are already making it clear that the cost of electricity will be reduced. Origin has said today that the electricity price will come down. The Electricity Retailers Association has said that the electricity price will come down.

Unfortunately, the Leader of the Opposition has guaranteed that, under a government that he leads, the electricity price will go back up again. Let us be clear. When they seek to return a carbon tax dressed up as an ETS, the price will not just come back to where it is now. Under their modelling, it will go up to $38. This is what the budget said just a year ago—that the carbon tax, as a floating price, would climb to $38.

Let me compare what occurred under those opposite with what AGL has already said today. Electricity price reductions will be backdated to 1 July 2014. I will finish with their final words to Australian households: 'You don't need to do anything—we will make sure you receive all your savings.'