Glenn Lazarus (Queensland, Palmer United Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move the following amendment to this motion:

Omit all words after "That", substitute:

(1) the Senate notes the Abbott Government has broken another pre-election promise with their petrol tax ambush in by-passing Parliamentary processes to increase the cost of petrol through a 'tariff proposal', effectively raising the tax before having Parliamentary approval; and

(2) this underhanded act to increase petrol prices will have a negative impact on Australian families, pensioners, low income earners, single parents, retirees, the sick and disadvantaged, and businesses including small business owners;

(3) the Senate calls on the Abbott Government to reverse this decision and instead proceed to put the proposal to the Senate where it can be properly debated and they will of the people delivered.

Palmer United is firmly opposed to the Abbott government's underhanded, deceitful and totally unethical actions to increase the cost of petrol through an increase in taxes. The Palmer United Party is opposed to increasing the tax on petrol. The Abbott government has not attempted to introduce the measure into the Senate because they know it would be defeated. So, instead, the Abbott government has found another way to shaft Australians—by increasing taxes on petrol instead of bringing the matter to the Senate for consideration and decision by the will of the people of Australia—the very people who voted the Abbott government in.

The Abbott government has undermined all Australians. The petrol increase will harm families, low-income earners, pensioners, the sick, the disadvantaged, single-parent families, retirees and many, many others. In my home state of Queensland, people are on their knees. Over 75 per cent of the state is in drought. Business is struggling. Unemployment in rural and regional Australia as well as overall unemployment levels are at an all-time high. In Queensland, we already pay high taxes when we fill up at the bowser, and we are also asked to pay a toll on many major roads we travel on. Now the government is going to put more strain on us Queenslanders and, indeed, on all Australians by putting taxes up on petrol.

If all petrol taxes currently being collected were spent on roads, there would be no need for a new tariff or increase on petrol taxes. It is important to note that petrol taxes were introduced to pay for roads—for building new roads and for maintaining the existing roads. In other words, petrol taxes represent a user-pays system. Many would consider this a fair thing. But, as predictable as the sun rising, petrol taxes started to be siphoned off to pay for other things. Hence, road tolls were introduced. The Abbott government cannot keep introducing more taxes and raising existing taxes. No-one can afford increased fuel prices.

The Abbott government must overturn this cruel and underhanded decision, and let the people of Australia voice their views and decisions on this matter. The Abbott government should do the right thing and bring this matter before the Senate for proper consideration. I am calling on the Abbott government to do the right and honest thing: reverse your tax increases on petrol and bring this matter before the Senate.