“Labor members of parliament have one day left to keep faith with their electorates and vote against Julia Gillard’s carbon tax in Parliament tomorrow,” said Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Illawarra based Liberal Senator.
“Stephen Jones and Sharon Bird can restore faith with the people of the Illawarra by supporting the Coalition’s amendment which prevents the carbon tax coming into place before an election.
“Paul Howes has drummed up the support of his union mates to protest tomorrow outside my Wollongong office in an effort to deflect attention from the carbon tax but steelworkers know that the only job he is interested in protecting is his own.
“Mr Howes told Illawarra steelworkers they would have to cop the carbon tax but when they turned on him he made a hasty retreat and got Ms Gillard to cook up the Steel Transformation Plan to protect his job. It has very little to do with protecting the steel industry.
“Voters in the Illawarra will be watching very closely to see how Mr Jones and Ms Bird represent them on the carbon tax.
“Mr Jones and Ms Bird must not betray the voters of the Illawarra by voting for the carbon tax which will drive up the cost of living, threaten jobs and do nothing for the environment.
“Julia Gillard said ‘there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead’ and tomorrow all members of parliament will have the chance to vote against the carbon tax that the Prime Minister promised we wouldn’t have.
“At a time of international economic uncertainty, this is the worst possible time to be introducing the world’s biggest carbon tax.
“There is a better way. The Coalition’s Direct Action plan is a strong and effective policy that will reduce carbon emissions by 5 per cent by 2020 without a new tax. Our Direct Action plan is costed, capped and fully funded from savings to the budget.
“Direct Action means no costs to households, no new taxes, and no increase in electricity prices as a result of the policy,” Senator Fierravanti-Wells said.
“The Coalition’s commitment to the Australian people is that we will do everything in our power to fight this toxic tax.
“The Coalition will oppose the carbon tax in opposition and rescind it in government.
“This parliament has no mandate to introduce a carbon tax,” Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells said.