jackovesk
17th April 2011, 15:20
The Australian April 18, 2011
BUSINESS opposition to Julia Gillard's carbon tax has intensified, with food and grocery producers falling into line with miners to warn the levy could destroy jobs and slash living standards.
And negotiations between the government and business appear close to flashpoint, as seven out of the government's hand-picked 15-member industry advisory group have signed a letter to the Prime Minister warning the tax could drive investment overseas.
Corporate tempers flared yesterday as Climate Change Minister Greg Combet urged business leaders they were "better off inside the room" and should keep talking to the government over the implementation of the carbon tax, due to take effect from July 1 next year.
Mr Combet also vowed pensioners would be protected from the impact of the change to a low-emissions economy, but Wayne Swan was unable to guarantee that jobs would not be lost as he conceded some polluting industries already faced pre-existing challenges to their viability.
The comments came as Tony Abbott headed to Western Australia's rich Pilbara mining region to urge miners to continue to demand their unions oppose the tax in the wake of the Australian Workers Union warning last week that it would withdraw its support for the change if a single job was lost.
During the five years that the Howard, Rudd and Gillard governments have grappled with the need to put a price on carbon to tackle climate change, mining companies and power generators have been the biggest critics.
But yesterday it was revealed that 19 food and grocery manufacturers had joined the resistance, alongside mining and power companies, to sign a letter to Ms Gillard warning of dire consequences if the tax was not carefully designed.
Companies represented included Goodman Fielder, George Weston Foods, Nestle Australia, CSR, Laucke Flour Mills, Yakult Australia and Bundaberg Sugar.
Crucially, seven of the signatories -- mainly from mining companies -- went public despite their membership of the government's business roundtable, which is advising Ms Gillard on the design of the tax.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/food-giants-join-war-on-carbon-tax/story-e6frg6n6-1226040635543
PS - We'll see? One thing I do know for sure is everday Australians are finally starting to 'Wake Up' fast on this SCAM!
BUSINESS opposition to Julia Gillard's carbon tax has intensified, with food and grocery producers falling into line with miners to warn the levy could destroy jobs and slash living standards.
And negotiations between the government and business appear close to flashpoint, as seven out of the government's hand-picked 15-member industry advisory group have signed a letter to the Prime Minister warning the tax could drive investment overseas.
Corporate tempers flared yesterday as Climate Change Minister Greg Combet urged business leaders they were "better off inside the room" and should keep talking to the government over the implementation of the carbon tax, due to take effect from July 1 next year.
Mr Combet also vowed pensioners would be protected from the impact of the change to a low-emissions economy, but Wayne Swan was unable to guarantee that jobs would not be lost as he conceded some polluting industries already faced pre-existing challenges to their viability.
The comments came as Tony Abbott headed to Western Australia's rich Pilbara mining region to urge miners to continue to demand their unions oppose the tax in the wake of the Australian Workers Union warning last week that it would withdraw its support for the change if a single job was lost.
During the five years that the Howard, Rudd and Gillard governments have grappled with the need to put a price on carbon to tackle climate change, mining companies and power generators have been the biggest critics.
But yesterday it was revealed that 19 food and grocery manufacturers had joined the resistance, alongside mining and power companies, to sign a letter to Ms Gillard warning of dire consequences if the tax was not carefully designed.
Companies represented included Goodman Fielder, George Weston Foods, Nestle Australia, CSR, Laucke Flour Mills, Yakult Australia and Bundaberg Sugar.
Crucially, seven of the signatories -- mainly from mining companies -- went public despite their membership of the government's business roundtable, which is advising Ms Gillard on the design of the tax.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/food-giants-join-war-on-carbon-tax/story-e6frg6n6-1226040635543
PS - We'll see? One thing I do know for sure is everday Australians are finally starting to 'Wake Up' fast on this SCAM!