CARBON TAX TO HIT MURRINDINDI SHIRE HARD
30-May-2011
New research has shown Labor’s proposed Carbon Tax will have a severe impact on the Murrindindi Shire economy.
Research conducted by the Australian Farm Institute shows that local farmers could be hit with an additional $36,000 a year in operating costs under the proposed tax, severely impacting on the profitability and sustainability of local farms.
Modeling conducted on grain farms projected annual business cost increases of between 2.4 and 5.7% and a reduction in farm net income of between 8.6 and 29.7%, relative to a business-as-usual scenario.
Sheep, Beef Cattle and Grain Farming are the most common industries of employment in the Murrindindi Shire*.
“We all knew that the Carbon Tax would hit farmers hard, but this research is evidence that this toxic tax will significantly damage our local economy,” said Sophie Mirabella MP, Federal Member for Indi.
“Julia Gillard’s Carbon Tax is aimed at the very heart of our regions prosperity. Agriculture is a trade exposed industry and it is very difficult for farmers to absorb any additional costs that their competitors on the global market won’t face.”
“If Ms Gillard is so desperate to hit us with a tax that will push up energy bills, send jobs off shore and damage our local economy then she should take it to a new election and seek the approval of the Australian public,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.