Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

There is a reason why not a single economist anywhere in the world supports direct action. There is a reason why Treasury has advised about the costliness of direct action. There is a reason why, apart from Mr Hunt, no-one on that side believes it will actually do anything. It is a policy that is designed to get you through an election. It is a policy that you know will not work. It is a policy that will cost Australians more—$1,300 per year extra tax paid by Australian households. So we give tax cuts and you impose a tax hike for a policy that you know will not work.

In terms of the Brisbane City Council rate increases, remember that the proportion associated with carbon is being the subject of assistance by the federal government, unlike every other part of the rate hike. (Time expired)