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Wednesday May 23, 2012

What we're talking about

The Tax .. and the reactions

Posted by: 3AW News | 10 July, 2011 - 6:12 PM
Gillard

'The science is in." said Julia Gillard at the long-awaited launch of the government's controversial carbon tax plan.

Read the reactions of industry leaders below.

Are you proud Australia will tax polluters in what the government says is in the best interests of the world's environment?

KEY POINTS:

http://www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au/

- Carbon price to start on July 1, 2012, starting at $23 a tonne rising at 2.5 per cent a year.

- It will be paid by about 500 biggest polluters.

- It will be replaced by an emissions trading scheme from July 1, 2015.

- Price ceiling and floor to apply when trading starts.

- There will be two rounds of tax cuts and increases in allowances, payments and benefits.

- The tax free threshold will almost triple to $18,200 from July 1, 2012, and then increase to $19,400 from July 1, 2015.

- Every taxpayer with income below $80,000 to get tax cut from July 1, 2012.

- Costs for the average household will rise by $9.90 a week.

- Average household assistance, under the "clean energy supplement", will be $10.10 a week.

- $9.2 billion will be allocated over the first three years for industry assistance.

- Most exposed industries such as steel, aluminium, zinc, pulp and paper makers will get free permits representing 94.5 per cent of industry average carbon costs.

- $300 million has set aside help the steel industry move to a clean energy future.

- $1.3 billion has been set aside for a Coal Sector Jobs Package, targeted at mines that are most affected by the carbon price.

- A $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation will be established to invest in new technology.

- $3.2 billion has been allocated to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

- Closure of 2000 megawatts of dirtiest power generators by 2020.

- Agriculture is not subject to carbon price, farmers to benefit from carbon farming.

- Small grants will be made for community-based energy efficiency programs.

- Transport fuel excluded, but heavy transport to start paying carbon tax in 2014.

- Climate Change Authority to advise on pollution caps and meeting emissions targets.

3AW NEWS: The Coalition believes millions of Australians will be worse off as result of the Government's carbon tax, and it will do little to help the environment.

The Government claims 90 per cent of households will recieve some form of assistance to compensate for higher consumer prices as a result of the tax.

Pensioners will recieve extra assistance and the tax-free threshold will be lifted to $18,000 from next year.

But Opposition leader Tony Abbott says the public can't be easily fooled, claiming there's a fair bit of the Government's scheme which is deeply flawed.

Victoria's Acting Premier says the federal government's carbon tax is a 'stake in the heart' to workers at the Hazelwood Power Station.

Under the plan 2,000 megawatts of the nation's 'dirtiest' power generators would close.

Peter Ryan says the package is a direct threat to jobs for those employed in the sector.

Around $1.5 billion will be rolled out to pensioners and some low income families a few months before the carbon tax is introduced.

Millions of other households will recieve billions extra in compensation once the tax takes effect in July next year.

Average consumer prices will rise by around $10-per-week as a result of the tax, according to the government, while electricity costs will jump a little over $3-per-week.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard believes the tax strikes the right balance to help reduce greenhouse gases while also aiding families and industry.

Ninety per cent of Australian households will recieve some form of compensation from the Government when the carbon tax is introduced next year.

Those earning up to $80,000 will on average be around $300-per-year better off, the government says.

Greens Leader Bob Brown says Australians should be proud that we'll be the first country in the world to have an economy-wide carbon price.

Brown also says it's a well-negotiated deal.

Almost 300,000 self-funded retirees will not receive compensation for cost of living pressures arising from the carbon tax.

The income limit for a Commonwealth Seniors Card has remained unchanged at $50,000 for singles and $80,000 for couples since 2001.

National Seniors Australia argues as the cost of living increases, the threshold will prevent more retirees from being able to offset increases in the cost of living.

CEO Michael O'Neill says self-funded retirees have been forgotten about.

Small businesses have voiced concerns about the Gillard Government's carbon tax, saying they're the forgotten sector.

VECCI CEO Mark Stone says it seems small buinesses will not receive any form of compensation.

He says the tax will hit small businesses hard when consumers become more cautious in their spending.

The cost of building a new home is set to rise under the Federal Governement's carbon tax.

The housing industry did not recieve compensation under the new policy.

Graham Wolfe, Chief Executive of the Housing Industry Association, says manufacturers will be forced to increase prices which will cost home buyers more.

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THE INTERVIEWS:

Julia Gillard in the studio with Neil Mitchell

 The Sell: Wayne Swan with Neil Mitchell

The Attack: Tony Abbott says he will scrap the entire carbon tax plan

Victoria: Energy Minister on the ramifications for us

Science: Why on earth are we doing all of this?

Useless: Kevin Andrews says tax won't benefit environment

Audio: Is the tax Play School-based or comedy-based?

 

Julia Gillard's decisions wayward?

Julia Gillard YOUR SAY: "If Julia Gillard stuck to one firm principle in her decision making and that is 'what is in the best interest of the people I govern?', I am sure the opinion polls would be showing much different figures to the ones hanging from her toilet door today."

 

ARCHIVE CONTENT:

'Did you lie to us?'

Julia Gillard says 'climate change is real' (Fairfax Images) Prime Minister Julia Gillard explains to Neil Mitchell why her government wants to price carbon and addresses claims she's misled the Australian public. Have your say after hearing her justifications.

 

PM wants to hear from YOU

JG We are now collecting the comments, nearly 500 of them, and sending them off to the Prime Minister's office. Thanks to all who contributed.

Blog comments Your Say

  • Steve, the latest explosion of coal seam mines are RIPPING THE GUTS out of the country - food producing country that is. Does food not mean anything to you? What about water, because that will be ruined too. This transitionary fuel Juliar is so keen to sell is a disaster. Get up to speed with what is really going on in Australia....

    Justine Friday 22 July, 2011 - 10:31 PM

  • Lenny Tuesday 12 July, 2011 - 1:34 PM: And again @ 2:55 PM: The ultimate measure of the AGW catastrophe is indeed in the rise of the sea level, and it isn't happening fast. Torres Strait islands were getting flooded occasionally 60 years ago. Nothing new there. People are worrying about leaving some islands because they have been terrorised by the AGW mafia into expecting to get washed away. Sea levels have indeed been rising--20cm in the last century, and just possibly, though not for certain, rising slightly more quickly lately, though not by nearly enough to meet the IPCC's high range forecast of 76cm, let alone Julia's 1 metre. Between that and the failure of global temperatures to move toward the alarmist forecasts the science does indeed look to be on the brink of being busted.

    Ted O'Brien Tuesday 19 July, 2011 - 8:49 PM

  • Poor Steve, he's doin' it tough... His mining shares have dropped & he's probably down to his last 5 Million~! :p

    Lenny Friday 15 July, 2011 - 8:09 PM

  • Lay off the mines they are the guts of country,shut them down and we shut down our country !!

    Steve Friday 15 July, 2011 - 10:31 AM

  • Yes, I agree with Lenny's comment re: David Jones' excuse for falling sales - not carbon tax morons, your sleazy ex C.E.O. has damaged your reputation, never would I shop in one of your stores again because of Mark the Monster and your covering up of the whole sordid episode.

    Vera Friday 15 July, 2011 - 7:01 AM

  • Lenny - "We are NOT going to prostitute the planet for a few @ucks, to benefit a select few." Oh yes we are! We are doing it right now! You are across the energy issues, surely you know that we have already started fracking the life off the planet with shale & coal seam gas???

    Justine Thursday 14 July, 2011 - 11:49 PM

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