Mark Furner (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am sure you do, Senator Macdonald. You should be aware of all these issues that affect an area that you live in, but you are in complete denial. This is just a small snapshot of what we need to take action on for climate change, if not for ourselves, then for our children, our grand­children and their children. We do this so that they will have a future and a life they can enjoy.

We believe that putting a price on carbon is the cheapest and most efficient and effective way of reducing our carbon emissions and helping our nation's transition into a cleaner economy. Our plan is to charge our 1,000 top polluters for every tonne of pollution they emit. By doing this we will provide them with incentives to switch to renewable energy. We will be providing support to emission intensive industries as well as supporting jobs. Under our own policy polluters will pay. It will bring certainty to many sectors and, most import­antly, Australians will be given assistance.

More than 50 per cent of revenue collected will go back into assisting Austra­lians. Nine out of 10 households will receive assistance from the federal govern-ment through tax cuts. The pension will increase and family payments will be increased. This assistance will ensure that householders will not have to foot the bill for the increase in the cost of living and will allow them to do their bit to help the environment.

We know that our low-income house­holders do not have a lot of money to spare so we will be ensuring that they receive extra assistance. More than three million householders will get an extra 20 per cent in tax cuts and increased payments. We will also be providing assistance to those who rely on electricity for their medical equip­ment. The government knows of 110,000 Australians who rely on essential medical equipment like dialysis machines and life-support machines, just to name a couple, and we will ensure that they receive extra financial assistance to cover the cost of the rise in electricity prices with a special annual cash payment. This will be a huge economic reform and it is something that our govern­ment can be proud of.

Our policy has received support from different sectors. Fosters CEO, John Pollaers, said:

Everyone gets it has to happen, that is a trading scheme. I sometimes struggle with where this sits in the priorities in Australia at the moment. It has to be done, I think it is right we do do it. If the benefit case includes that we are going to create a green tech sector in Australia that gives leadership ... then let's get moving.

Stockland director, Carol Schwartz, said:

I would put a price on carbon and I would move to an emissions trading scheme. Absolutely Julia Gillard is going in the right direction and she needs to have the courage of her convictions not to negotiate away too much.

Mr Tony Abbott would have you believe that the carbon tax will increase electricity prices. Electricity prices have risen significantly in the last few years and uncertainty in the industry is driving them up. Implementing our policy will provide certainty in the sector and allow investments in the industry to take place.

Even Australian Industry Group CEO, Heather Ridout, said:

... while much concern has focussed on carbon pricing, energy prices are going up significantly with or without it. Some of those cost drivers could be reduced by a well-designed carbon price. This could eliminate the policy uncertainty that is damaging investment in new electricity generation ...

Mr Abbott has also been running with the line that putting a price on carbon would increase the cost of living. Two years ago Mr Abbott believed in a carbon tax. He told Sky News on 29 July 2009:

I also think that if you want to put a price on carbon why not just do it with a simple tax?

Those were his words back in 2009. He went on:

Why not ask motorists to pay more?

That is obviously something he is denying now.

Why not ask electricity consumers to pay more? And then at the end of the year you can take your invoices to the tax office and get a rebate of a carbon tax you've paid.

Even his former leader believed in a carbon tax. On 29 May, 2007 John Howard told Radio 3AW Melbourne:

Fundamental to tackling climate change and reducing greenhouse gas—