Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I can tell the Senate that Senator Cormann is not being up-front with the Australian people. Perhaps he would like to go out and tell the Australian people what the figure is for the increase in indexation on fuel excise plus the 6c a litre on the fuel tax credits over the forward estimates. I tell him that, according to our estimations, it is half of what you would raise in the fuel excise. Half would go straight into the pockets of the big miners. It is a complete cost-shift out of the pockets of the community when they drive their vehicles straight into the pockets of the big miners. That is where it is going. Add up the figures. Indexation plus fuel tax credits—half is going into that and the other half into the East West Link, WestConnex and every other freeway and congestion measure that will increase urban sprawl and increase pollution. Why don't you tell people that you want to take their money on fuel excise in order to give it to the big miners through the indexation and through this particular measure? You will not come forward and you will not say.

We did not discuss this last week. You did not put a figure on the table. I am asking you again for the figure that you are prepared to forego here. How much are you going to lose as a result of giving back to the big miners 6c a litre? It is 6c a litre into the pockets of the leader of the Palmer United Party, into the pocket of Gina Rinehart, into the pocket of Twiggy Forrest, into the pockets of the lot of them. Because the one thing that the government has got control over his fossil fuel subsidies—government expenditure giving away money to the big miners. Why won't you stand up here and name the figure?

I take it from the minister that is going to sit there and stonewall and not answer because he does not want people out there in the community to know that what we are doing here is yet another big assistance to the big end of town—cost-shifting out of the community's pocket straight into the pocket of the big miners, which is exactly what we are doing here.

I will try another one to see if the minister can answer this time, since he will not answer on fugitive emissions, mining companies and coal seam gas. I ask the minister: how much of a financial benefit will accrue to Queensland Nickel by it no longer being a liable entity under the carbon price? I know you have got the figures, because the regulator has got those figures. I want to know exactly how much money is going to go and what benefit will accrue to Queensland Nickel by it no longer having to pay a carbon price. It is an important question and I would like an answer.