More evidence Rudd ETS slugs Regional Australia hardest

A new study confirming farmers would lose almost a quarter of their income under the Rudd Government’s Emissions Trading Scheme is further evidence regional Australia will pay a disproportionately high price for the plan, according to NSW Nationals Senator, Fiona Nash. The report by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) , Effects of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme on the economic value of farm production, predicts massive losses to the agricultural sector, particularly in beef, sheep, dairy and broadacre farming. Senator Nash said it was ‘a brave call’ by ABARE, considering the Rudd Government stripped the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation of $12 million in funding after it reached similar conclusions earlier this year. “Despite the drought, the farming sector is about the only Australian industry to weather the Rudd recession, so it makes no economic sense to slug it with these extra taxes,” Senator Nash said. “Study after study shows Mr Rudd’s ETS will not only devastate regional communities, but could also put at risk Australia’s food security.” “The worst of it is that these draconian measures will result in a net increase of global emissions as jobs and production are exported to countries like China, which have lower environmental standards and are highly unlikely to sign up to a Rudd-like carbon reduction scheme.” “Regional Australia is therefore paying the price for Labor’s relentless pursuit of ‘feel good’ green votes in Australia’s capital cities,” Senator Nash concluded. Contact: Murray Lees, media adviser, 0417 406 338

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