Carbon tax to power job growth, says MP

By Michelle Herbison
GEELONG will become the “power-generation centre of Victoria” under a new carbon tax, according to Federal member for Corangamite Darren Cheeseman.
Mr Cheeseman said the tax passed on Tuesday would create thousands of jobs in the region as the state shifted from Gippsland-based coal power to renewable energy in the west.
“Our region will benefit more than just about any other region in the country under the carbon tax,” he said.
“Thousands of jobs in building and construction, trades and maintenance, research, design and retail will be created in our own backyard.”
Mr Cheeseman said the wind industry already had about $4 billion of investment pending across western Victoria.
“For example, the massive investment we’ve made at Deakin Waurn Ponds with a new state-of-the-art carbon fibre manufacturing and research facility will put Geelong right at the leading edge of research and design into carbon fibre. All of the large wind turbines must be made from carbon fibre because it is strong and light.”
Mr Cheeseman said Corangamite residents were starting to understand the region’s “unique” fortune.
“We don’t take anything for granted but I think people would concede that Labor winning Corangamite has made a real difference.”
Opposition leader Tony Abbott directly attacked Mr Cheeseman over the carbon tax.
“This new tax is a blow to the future of businesses in Corangamite and a new burden for families struggling under cost of living increases,” Mr Abbott said.
“This tax is as much Darren Cheeseman’s tax as it is Julia Gillard’s. All they have done is export jobs and emissions overseas.”
Mr Abbott called the passing of the carbon tax through parliament a “blow to the future of business in Corangamite”.
Darren Cheeseman had “betrayed his voters”, Mr Abbott said.
Liberal Senator Michael Ronaldson said the tax would hit regional communities “first and hardest”.
“The carbon tax will just keep driving up the price of electricity, gas and transport, cut international competitiveness for local industry and put local jobs at risk.”