Driving home his point: Tony Abbott gets his hands dirty at Breakwater’s Aus Pits this week.
KIM WATERS
OPPOSITION leader Tony Abbott has vowed to protect Geelong’s small and medium-sized businesses from the Gillard Government’s “crippling” carbon tax.
Mr Abbott told workers at Breakwater concrete manufacturer Aus Pits this week that he would scrap the tax if elected Prime Minister.
He warned that many small and medium-sized businesses in the region would suffer under the “hobbling” tax.
“I want you guys to stay in business, I want you guys to stay employed. I want to try to ensure this company has a good future,” Mr Abbott said.
“If we win the next election we will take this tax off, that’s an absolute guarantee. It’s the first thing we’ll try to do.”
Mr Abbott said businesses like Aus Pits would face “needless” uncertainty over unknown costs.
“There is compensation for households, there is assistance for some large businesses, but small and medium businesses like this are not assisted and that’s obviously going to be a real problem for job security in businesses like this.
“You won’t know how much your costs go up until your suppliers send you post carbon tax invoices. You’re expected to quote for jobs after July next year without knowing…the price.”
Mr Abbott promised workers his direct action plan for climate change would reduce carbon emissions with “incentives rather than penalties”.
“There’s a smart way and a dumb way to achieve a five per cent reduction in emissions. We want to do it in a smart way, by building on the common sense practices that many Australian businesses have already adopted.”
Federal Labor MP for Corio Richard Marles ridiculed Mr Abbott’s “doomsday” prediction.
“The facts are that the Gillard Labor Government will allocate, free of charge, Australian carbon permits to the most emission-intensive and trade-exposed industries.”
Mr Marles said manufacturing companies could also be eligible for the Government’s Clean Technology Program grants to invest in energy-efficient equipment.
