GET UP’S SHUT UP CALL AN AFFRONT TO FREE SPEECH
08-July-2011
Left-wing activist group Get Up attacks democracy and free speech with its threats of an aggressive campaign to boycott more than 100 Australian food and grocery companies.
Get Up has adopted its Labor-Green mates’ intimidation tactics and is now demanding Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) members suffer because they have warned about the dangers to their industry of Julia Gillard’s carbon tax.
“This is old-fashioned, union-style intimidation that is completely irresponsible and unacceptable,” said Shadow Industry Minister Sophie Mirabella.
“Get Up is effectively demanding these companies lie and pretend the carbon tax won’t seriously threaten their viability and Australian jobs.
“Australia’s food processors are already suffering, and the reality is that a carbon tax will punch a massive hole in this critical sector.
“There are dramatic ramifications for the entire supply chain through higher costs in transport, power, refrigeration and food and grocery manufacturing.
“AFGC modelling also shows such a tax will be likely to cause food and grocery prices to rise by between 3 to 5 per cent, and will impact on the profitability of supermarket retailers by between 2 and 4 per cent.”
The AFGC speaks for the country’s largest manufacturing sector, which employs more than 288,000 people (almost half of them in rural and regional Australia).
“This blackmail from Get Up to stop debate on a big new tax is offensive,” said Mrs Mirabella.
“The reality is that free speech is only ok to Get Up when people agree with it.”