Today, Julia Gillard has delivered the mother of all broken promises, by announcing that Labor will introduce a Carbon Tax from July 1, 2012.

 

Sophie Mirabella MP, Federal Member for Indi has slammed the decision as a heartless backflip.

During the 2010 election campaign, both Prime Minister Gillard and Deputy Prime Minister, Wayne Swan ruled out a Carbon tax. When questioned whether she would introduce a Carbon Tax if Labor won the election, the Prime Minister stated “There will be no carbon tax under the government I lead”1. Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan went one step further, saying; “what we rejected is this hysterical allegation that somehow we are moving towards a carbon tax” 2.

 

“Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan have lied to the Australian people. At the last election, they looked voters in the eye and promised not to introduce a carbon tax and just six months later, they have broken that promise,” said Mrs Mirabella.

 

“This is further proof that The Greens are running the Governments agenda.

 

“This tax will hit families with an additional $300 in the first year alone. Within 3 years, it will rise to a 25 percent increase over and above other increases.

 

“This bad tax will also cost jobs. Julia Gillard is moving before the rest of the world on this. Our major

industries will struggle to compete with other countries that don’t have to pay a carbon tax. Basic economics says that this will costs jobs, including many country jobs, will discourage investment and it will do major damage to our economy.

 

“The Coalition has an effective plan to reduce carbon emissions through direct action. It won’t push up prices and it won’t cost jobs. If Ms Gillard was serious about taking the pressure of family budgets, she would support our policy,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.

 

1 http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/climate/gillard-rules-out-imposing-carbon-tax-20100816-1270b.html

2 http://www.alp.org.au/federal-government/news/transcript--wayne-swan,-interview,-meet-the-press/