Labor’s ETS will hurt North-East farmers: Sophie

26-February-2009

“Recent reports that primary producers will be adversely affected by the Rudd Government’s proposed Emissions Trading Scheme are extremely alarming and a real concern for North-East farmers and residents”, Federal Member for Indi, Sophie Mirabella MP said today.

“So far the Rudd Government has refused to enter into any debate about the scheme that is tipped to see agricultural output down by $2.4 billion in 2020. This is just four years after it is planned to be imposed on farmers in 2016,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Labor promised an inquiry into the ETS only to scrap it before it even got off the ground. That is why the Coalition in the Senate has demanded an inquiry must go ahead to assess the impact an ETS will have on our local farmers.”

“What is the government trying to hide? They refuse to release any details and have so far been very unclear about the complex scheme. It’s just ludicrous that the Rudd government won’t commit to the planned Labor-dominated inquiry because they are afraid of what will be found,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Climate change experts are calling the Government’s ETS complicated. If experts find it complicated then how is the average primary producer supposed to understand it and understand how it affects them?”

“Even the Greens are angry with the Government who is trying to push the ETS bill through Parliament with no scrutiny, no acccountabliltiy and no credibility. It’s very clear the Rudd Government isn’t interested in the effects its ETS will have on farmers,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Sadly, because the Rudd Government won’t discuss its ETS, primary producers remain in the dark, with the rest of Australia over how the scheme will affect them. It’s just not fair,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“If the planned scheme goes ahead, primary producers will experience a marked downturn in farm production. Beef producers are tipped to be the worst off under the scheme, as it is estimated that by 2030 beef production will be down $6 billion. These adverse affects are serious and need to be investigated.”

“All sectors will be affected including grain, wool, meat, and dairy farmers. The ETS will drive up Australian export prices, making farmers even less competitive on the global market,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“With the EU increasing subsidies and fears that the US and China will follow suit the news just gets worse for our local farmers. Labor must protect primary producers who are struggling to make ends meet as it is.”

“Labor needs to stop the political games and allow its proposed ETS to be given the serious scrutiny it needs,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.