Carr Spruiking Axed Scheme

19-May-2011

Kim Carr has been caught out today, still spruiking the merits of a fund Prime Minister Gillard cut from his portfolio in January.

In a media release today, the Minister states that the Green Car Innovation Fund is “an integral element of the Australian Government’s bold New Car Plan for a Greener Future and is transforming the Australian automotive industry for a more economically and environmentally sustainable future.”

“It is extraordinary that Mr Carr is still spruiking the Green Car Innovation Fund as integral to his automotive policy, when it has already been scrapped with more than $900 million left unspent,” said Sophie Mirabella, Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry and Science.

In the release, Mr Carr also claims credit for being a part of creating jobs. He boasts of “increased employment and skills, and far-reaching commercial opportunities.”

“Minister Carr is claiming credit for creating jobs when he should be apologising for helping to create a carbon tax that will shift thousands of jobs offshore,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Producing cars and car parts in Australia becomes untenable under the proposed carbon tax.

“This is an unbelievable act of self parody from someone who clearly does not deserve the title of Industry Minister.

“What he should be doing is devoting his energy to fighting tooth and nail against a crippling tax upon Australian industry - it is what Australian businesses are rightly demanding of him but his callous disregard has again won the day.

“Mr Carr has to be living under a rock not to know how the carbon tax will affect Australian industries. He is treating them with a level of indifference rarely displayed by a Minister with responsibilities for peoples’ jobs and businesses,” concluded Mrs Mirabella.