"Only a Coalition Government will deliver the Toowoomba Bypass"

15 June 2012

With little more than two weeks until the start of the carbon tax, the Gillard Government’s carbon tax cop has written to Toowoomba Regional Council naming it as one of Australia’s biggest polluters and telling it to brace itself for a major carbon tax hit.

The Gillard Government has listed Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) as one of Australia’s biggest polluters and will make ratepayers pay significant carbon tax costs.

“The world’s biggest carbon tax is going to do great damage to the budget of TRC and many others like it,” Federal Member for Groom Ian Macfarlane said.

“With just over two weeks to go until the start of the carbon tax, it’s clear the carbon tax is going to hit the TRC budget, just like it will hit households budgets.

“The Australian Local Government Association estimates that the cost of the carbon tax (excluding landfill operations) will be a minimum of $185 million nationwide.

“In addition, councils like Toowoomba Regional Council will pay carbon tax on the landfill operations they run or use.  As tip charges go up and up, the risk of illegal dumping will also go up and up.

“It defies belief that TRC will be whacked for collecting and disposing household rubbish.

“Collecting household rubbish is a core responsibility of local government – and under the carbon tax, councils will be slugged for doing their job.”

Mr Macfarlane said local residents will be paying the carbon tax on their rates – just like they will be paying carbon tax on electricity, gas and groceries.

“By increasing council costs, the carbon tax costs will mean either increases in council rates and charges or cuts to services.

“These impacts are just the start as the carbon tax is legislated to go up and up.”  

Mr Macfarlane said Julia Gillard has no mandate from the people of Toowoomba and the Darling Downs for the carbon tax and that at the next election the Coalition will seek a mandate to repeal this tax.