Liberal Party: Ditching carbon tax could take 12 months
3rd Aug 2012
Politicians aren't usually praised for their honesty, but opposition business spokesman Bruce Billson may deserve credit for admitting that ditching the carbon tax could take time.
The abolition of the controversial charge has been a central plank of the Liberal Party's manifesto as it attempts to get into government, but Bruce was quoted in the Daily Telegraph as saying it will take 12 to 14 months to get the process moving.
He stated legislation would need to be prepared and if this was rejected by the Senate then they would need to wait another three months before representing it on the same terms.
"If it gets knocked back again that then represents a double dissolution trigger," he explained. "That is the action we are prepared to take."
So what are their chances of success in getting it abolished? Well, according to leader of the Greens Senator Christine Milne, not very good at all.
She said: "The carbon pricing scheme will not be repealed, it's just as simple as that.
"There is a whole lot of talk about [how] after the election an Abbott government would repeal the carbon tax, it just won't happen."
Her frank assessment was coupled with her assertions that many businesses are in support of a shift to a zero-carbon economy.
A recent poll by Herald/Nielsen supported her comments, showing more and more people are warming up to the levy with fewer saying they are worse off after its introduction.
However, this seems unlikely to stop opposition leader Tony Abbott, who announced last month that he intends to dump the carbon tax should his party get into government.
But, barring an early election, this means the charge is likely to be around until the end of 2014 at least, meaning it will already be suitably entrenched with most companies.
Posted by Mike Peacock
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