Combet Rains on Carr’s Parade

14-April-2011

Kim Carr claimed last month that the Government would look after industries affected by a carbon tax, and develop a ‘’balanced package’’ to save manufacturing jobs. These were empty words to appease anxious industries and workers.

But Greg Combet has stymied Carr’s claims by detailing that over 50% of the revenue from the tax would be sent back to low income families.

Yesterday Combet refused to answer questions about a compensation package that would prevent the export of our manufacturing jobs. He made it clear that assistance to industry was not a top priority of Government.

Industry is about to be hung out to dry with no information about how it will be compensated and what the Government will do to stop carbon leakage.

“The concerns of industry leaders and Australian businesses have now been confirmed. They know the Gillard Government will say and do anything to buy short term community votes for a carbon tax while ignoring the hard decisions of job losses,” said Shadow Industry Minister, Sophie Mirabella.

“Kim Carr and industry policy is again being ignored by the heavyweights in Cabinet.

“Meanwhile Combet’s con is that the carbon tax magic pudding will not run out.

“No matter how much money Labor has at its disposal it always runs out and carbon tax funds will be no exception.

“The union bosses have chosen to protect one job, Julia Gillard’s, and are sacrificing the livelihoods of working Australians. Compensation for factory workers will be of limited use when their jobs are exported and they are unemployed,” Mrs Mirabella said.