Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Hansard source

There is no cost-free way to tackle climate change. As former Prime Minister Howard said three years ago:

... the idea that you can bring about the changes that are needed ... without there being any impact at all at any time on the cost to the consumer, is quite unrealistic.

On that occasion at least Mr Howard was telling the truth, unlike the current Leader of the Opposition. The fact is that, under the government’s scheme, polluters pay and we help Australian families and Australian businesses. Under Mr Abbott’s scheme—his climate con job—taxpayers are slugged instead of the big polluters.