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COMMON SENSE PREVAILS ON ETS

Press Releases December 02 2009

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The defeat of the emissions trading scheme (ETS) is a win for common sense, Family First Leader Steve Fielding said today.

Senator Fielding said more and more Australians were becoming uncomfortable with how the Rudd Government was trying to rush through a massive tax.

“There are three important questions the Australian people and its Parliament deserve to have answered before we make up our minds and vote on any emissions trading scheme,” Senator Fielding said.

Senator Fielding wants the following three questions answered before any emissions trading scheme is considered by the Parliament.

1) What affect will it have on the economy if Australia commits to targets before the rest of the world?

2) What are the costs and the benefits of alternative emissions trading schemes?

3) Is the science right? Both sides should have their say on the science.

“The coalition voted down the ETS this time but can they be trusted to act logically when it next comes up?” Senator Fielding said.

“We owe it to the Australian people who we represent to do everything possible to get it right and that includes the science, the costs and benefits of different schemes and the impact on the our economy by going it alone.

“Australian families and business will breathe a sigh of relief today knowing that they won’t be slugged with a massive tax.

“Everyday people are saying it makes no sense for us to rush ahead before we know what the rest of world is doing, hopefully now the PM now gets the message.

“We need to do what is in the best interests of the Australian people, not what is in the best interests of Kevin Rudd’s political career.”