Regional Australians have only three more days to have their say on the Gillard government’s proposed carbon tax, through making submissions to a shotgun parliamentary inquiry, the Nationals Senator for NSW, Fiona Nash, said.
The Labor-Greens dominated inquiry resolved late last week to give Australians just six days to read the 1100 pages of legislation and make submissions by this Thursday. The inquiry committee only advertised for submissions in the weekend papers.
Also on the inquiry committee is the regional Independent for New England, Tony Windsor, who with Independent MP for Lyne, Rob Oakeshott, were instrumental in introducing the carbon tax.
“These independents should demand the inquiry extend the deadline for submissions to give regional Australians a realistic chance of having their say. The carbon tax will have huge ramifications for regional communities,” Senator Nash said.
“The inquiry committee also advised that, due to limited time, it will only be holding public hearings this Wednesday and again the following week which is unacceptable and hardly democratic.
“It demonstrates the Labor-Greens government’s utter contempt for transparency and the lengths to which it will go to gag public debate on the carbon tax. I urge regional Australians to have their say and not let this government get the better of them. I’m saying just do the best you can, not matter how brief your submission may be.”
Written submissions must be received by this Thursday, 22 September. They can be emailed to jscacefl@aph.gov.au or posted to the Secretary of the Inquiry into Australia’s Clean Energy Future, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600. Details on the inquiry can be found at: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jscacefl/index.htm
The committee will report on or before Friday, 7 October 2011
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