Gillard Government's Carbon Tax a Disgrace

The Gillard Government’s announcement that they will impose a Carbon Tax is a clear and fundamental breach of faith with the Australian Public, and ranks with Paul Keating’s L.A.W. tax cuts breach of faith with the electorate.

Make no mistake, during the final week of last year’s election campaign Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan promised they would not impose a Carbon Tax.

It was the key message they wanted in the public’s mind, it was what they wanted people to think in order to get Labor re-elected. But now in an appalling act of duplicity they are going to slug us all with this tax—a tax that will suffocate economic growth and put key Australian industries at a distinct disadvantage to overseas rivals.

“Who knows what the Prime Minister stands for anymore. Who knows what the Government stands for anymore.”

Mr Hawke said the Gillard Government’s Carbon Tax would lead to increases in fuel and electricity prices, already increasing beyond many local families ability to pay.

“The Gillard Government’s increases in taxes, the rush to take from the community instead of addressing their own waste and mismanagement is breathtaking,” Mr Hawke said.

“Clearly, the Gillard Government has drifted into a dangerous presumption when it comes to taxation. They tax, they levy and they charge at will. Where is their intention to take pressure off families struggling under the burden of weekly bills?

“The Gillard Government presumes it has the right and entitlement to draw from the wallets and pursues of Australians at will.”

Mr Hawke said it was clear that the Gillard Government was co-ordinating with the Greens and this has significant implications for the second half of 2011.

“The introduction of the Greens’ policy agenda would be disastrous to many people in our community. But clearly the Greens have the ear of the Gillard Government,” Mr Hawke said.

“And from July this year, they have the balance of power in the Senate.”