CARBON TAX TO CONDEMN AUSTRALIA TO RUSTING MUSEUM

22-March-2011

Today at the Press Club, the Chair of BlueScope Steel, Graeme Kraehe, slammed the Government’s selective spin on the effect of the carbon tax on manufacturing in Australia.

He said “nothing is more certain to condemn us to a rusting museum than the destructive carbon agenda currently being pursued.”

He also accused the Government of being “prepared to sacrifice a key sector of the economy” and “prepared to sacrifice Australian manufacturing”.

“Under the policy promoted by Garnaut and supported by the Government there will be no Australian steel industry in 20 years,” he said.

He stated that a… “difficult economic position is now being exacerbated by political expediency around a carbon tax.”

Of any so-called compensation he said “it is simply a bandaid on a bullet wound,” and that we should not adopt a carbon tax until 70% of our competitor nations do the same.

With over 40 years of experience in manufacturing Graeme Kraehe has crystallised the sector’s anxiety, frustration and predictions about the impacts of the ill considered carbon tax.

“He has blown the lid on Julia Gillard’s destructive carbon agenda,” said Sophie Mirabella, Shadow Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science.

“This tax will decimate Australian manufacturing and send a tide of Australian businesses offshore and ultimately result in increased carbon emissions by exporting manufacturing to less efficient nations,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Ms Gillard should send the carbon tax to the tax summit and include important industries like the steel industry to participate in this critical national debate,” said Mrs Mirabella.