The Government’s 2035 emissions reduction target is nothing more than an expensive charade on Australian families. We are now facing uncertain times, with potential for more taxes, higher electricity costs and families paying more at the checkout.
When asked when electricity bills will fall and by how much, the Prime Minister refused to answer.
Labor has failed to explain how it will reach its reckless 2035 emissions reduction target of 62 to 70 per cent or how much it will cost working families and pensioners.
It opens the door to a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, taxing products like the steel and cement that build houses and fertilisers and chemicals that help grow our food.
When Labor taxes industries, transport and businesses, Australian families end up paying, through higher prices at the shops and local job losses.
During the July sitting of Parliament I asked the Energy Minister, Chris Bowen to explain why his government has not reduced household electricity bills by $275, as promised. But he failed to answer.
The government will still not tell us their integrated system plan, which is what the energy grid will look like or what the actual cost of it is.
Australia only produces a little over one per cent of total global emissions.
At the recent Queensland LNP Convention, I supported a motion to reject the Labor Government’s Net Zero “at any cost” agenda.
We must, instead, find a balanced affordable energy mix including both baseload power and renewables which will ease cost of living pressures.
As part of the policy development process, at a Federal level, the Coalition has established a dedicated working group on ‘Energy and Emissions Reduction’ policy.
Meanwhile, Nationals Leader and Shadow Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud visited the Bundaberg region last week.
Together we visited several leading farming businesses where the skyrocketing cost of electricity is just one of many factors working against our agricultural sector.
Issues around water security, export volatility and the worker shortfalls were common concerns.
It was pleasing, despite the challenges, to see that our region is still feeding the nation and the world with the finest of homegrown Hinkler produce. The agri-tourism opportunities are also evolving fast.
The Government must not forget the contribution made by farmers in regional areas like Hinkler. I’ll keep fighting for our fair share.
Published column in Bundaberg Today on September 26
Photo: David Batt MP, Andrew Martens (Marto Farms) and Leader of the Nationals David Littleproud