Senate’s rejection of ETS a win for regional Australia

December 2, 2009

The Senate’s rejection of the Rudd Government’s Emission Trading Scheme was a win for regional Australia, Federal MP Luke Hartsuyker said today.

“Labor’s ETS was simply one big new tax on everything and would have done nothing for the environment. That is why The Nationals, The Greens and the Independent Senators all voted against this legislation. The Rudd ETS would have severely impacted pensioners and low to middle income families in the Cowper electorate. It would have placed a tax on every powerpoint, sending electricity prices through the roof and placing household budgets under extreme pressure. The ETS would also have hit small and medium sized businesses hard and this would have cost jobs in our local community.”

Mr Hartsuyker said the Prime Minister’s personal attack on anyone who questioned his flawed ETS was a disgrace. Kevin Rudd has tried to use this ETS as his job application for the Secretary General of the United Nations. As he has sought to grandstand on the international stage he has placed his own ambitions ahead of the national interest. He has tried to bulldoze this legislation through the Parliament without ever explaining how his ETS will impact on Australia.  Australians are now starting to see through this facade and want the Government to be up front and honest about their climate change policy.”

Mr Hartsuyker said local families had become anxious about the Rudd ETS when the true cost was reported in the media.  Local residents made their view very clear to me when I distributed a survey earlier this year. When asked them if they were willing to pay more for their electricity as a result of an ETS, only 18.2 per cent said yes. It is clear that most Australians want action on climate change but it must be a balanced approach that protects our national interest.  Australia must be a part of the global response to climate change but we should not go it alone. That will simply export local jobs, increase prices and place our nation at a competitive disadvantage.”