Councils in the Richmond and Page federal electorate could be directly slugged with Labor’s carbon tax, leading to likely further rate rises for local homeowners, it has been revealed in Senate Estimates, according to North Coast Nationals Senator Fiona Nash.
“Clean Energy Regulator bureaucrats told Senate Estimates on Monday that they have written to a further 104 councils that might also be hit by the carbon tax,” Senator Nash said.
“Among these 104 additional councils are Clarence Valley, Tweed Shire, Byron Shire, Ballina Shire and Lismore City councils.”
The Regulator’s Chair and CEO, Chloe Munro, told Senate Estimates that their ‘best guess’ is that, of these additional 104 local governments, about 70 will actually be liable to pay the carbon tax.
“In other words there is a 70 per cent chance North Coast locals will be hit, Senator Nash said.
“Even if the councils are lucky enough to escape the direct carbon tax hit, they still face massive increases in their power bills ($800,000/year for Tweed Shire Council), which they will likely have to pass on.”
“Labor MPs Janelle Saffin and Justine Elliot needs to explain to locals – who are already facing huge electricity price increases because of the carbon tax - why they are now under threat of further rate rises or a reduction in council services; and all this with no environmental benefits,” Senator Nash said.
“Only the Liberal and Nationals Coalition will make scrapping the carbon tax the first order of business if we win the next election,” Senator Nash concluded.
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