Greg Combet: Abbott Absurdities

Abbott Absurdities On Climate Change - Bulletin No. 17

Tony Abbott made a number of inaccurate and deceptive claims which show he does not regard the truth as being important in public life.

Claim 1: “When people buy their carbon permits abroad, rather than off the Australian Government, they’re opening up an enormous hole in their own revenue. They are not going to be able to afford the carbon compensation after 2015 ...” (Doorstop, Dandenong, 5 October 2011).

Fact 1: From 2015-16, the Government will sell a fixed number of carbon permits each year to big polluters. This is where the revenue will come from. Polluters who do not buy enough Australian permits will need to reduce their pollution or buy international permits. Purchases of international permits will be on top of domestic permits issued by the Government. There will be no reduction in revenue due to this international linking.

Claim 2: “Every farm uses fuel for its trucks and all of that is going to be hit by Labor’s toxic carbon tax.” (Remarks at Elmore Field Days, 6 October 2011).

Fact 2: Fuel used by farmers off-road for agriculture will not face a carbon price. Nor will fuel used by farmers on-road in cars and light commercial vehicles like utes and light trucks under 4.5 tonnes. On-road use by heavy on-road vehicles will not be affected until 2014.

Claim 3: “The last thing we want to do is to close down the motor industry in this country but every new car will be something like $400 a year more expensive under the carbon tax.” (Interview, Radio 2GB, 6 October 2011).

Fact 3: Treasury modelling shows the vehicle manufacturing industry’s output will be 0.6 per cent higher in 2020 with the Government’s carbon price than without a carbon price. The carbon price will not impose an annual $400 price increase on new cars. Most materials used to make cars – steel, aluminium and glass – will be shielded from the carbon price.

Next week the House of Representatives will vote on the Gillard Government’s clean energy future legislation. Mr Abbott will doubtless ramp up his reckless rhetoric. While he continues misleading the public, I will continue issuing these Bulletins to hold the Opposition Leader to account.