In the News
23 September 2011
Small business owners, families and pensioners in the Hills district will face massive increases to their electricity bills if the Gillard Government introduces their Carbon Tax.
Speaking in Parliament this week Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke spoke of the concerns local small businesses have with the introduction of this tax at a time when many are already struggling to make ends meet.
“Running a small business in Australia today is a Herculean feat,” Mr Hawke said. “They are being asked to foot the bill for the Labor Party’s absolute incompetence in managing the environment and our economic future.”
The Carbon Tax will add significantly to the cost of electricity which affects everyone in our local community.
“People need electricity. Our economy needs electricity. Our households need electricity. We cannot stunt usage by creating a disincentive through price.
“It will make all of us poorer and it will challenge our ability to get ahead internationally.”
Energy intensive small businesses in our area would receive no compensation and would face a choice of either passing on the extra costs to struggling families or being forced to shut their doors.
“What is going to happen to small individual dry cleaners? Is there a compensation package for them? Of course there is no compensation for them. Can they pass on a massive increase in cost to their customers? Of course not. In practicality, people are going to dry-clean less. What is going to happen to those businesses?”
The damage the Carbon Tax will cause to the local economy is harder to fathom because not one Australian had a chance to vote for it and Labor has no mandate to introduce it.
“It is a fact that 144 of the MPs in this chamber campaigned against a carbon tax at the last election. That is why the coalition have been clear about our position: if you want to do such a major reform, you must first place it in front of the Australian people.
Alex Hawke said that the general consensus of local residents he had spoken to was very clear.
“They worry about their standard of living – and they are right to do so.”
16 August 2011
On the first anniversary of her promise that she would not introduce a carbon tax, Julia Gillard has refused to apologise to the people the Hills for misleading them, said the Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke.
“In the Parliament today, Tony Abbott asked the Prime Minister whether she would apologise for breaking her election promise not to introduce a carbon tax. The Prime Minister failed to do so,” Mr Hawke said.
“Julia Gillard told the Australian people that ‘there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead’,” (Channel Ten News, 16 August 2010).
“Now, she wants to introduce a carbon tax without seeking the mandate of the Australian people.
“The most incompetent Government in living memory wants to be trusted with the most complex tax change in our history.
“The Labor-Green carbon tax will drive up prices, threaten jobs and do nothing for the environment. It is a great big new tax on everything, and every year it will just go up and up and up.”
Mr Hawke said local families are already struggling with soaring cost of living pressures. The carbon tax will make a bad situation worse and the Prime Minister refuses to acknowledge this.
“The Coalition’s commitment to the Australian people is that we will do everything in our power to fight this toxic tax.” Mr Hawke said.
“The Coalition will oppose it in opposition and rescind it in government.
“Julia Gillard should apologise to the people of the Hills for misleading them. She should acknowledge that she has no mandate to introduce this carbon tax,” Mr Hawke said.
3 August 2011
Households should demand their money back from the Gillard Government for the cost of the misleading Carbon Tax junk mail which is arriving in their letterboxes, said the Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke.
$4 million is being spent on the 20 page booklet as part of the government’s $25 million taxpayer funded advertising campaign to sell its Carbon Tax.
“There is strong local opposition to this advertising campaign,” Mr Hawke said. “I have been inundated by calls from the local residents about this waste of taxpayers’ money by the Gillard Government.
“I have been told that local people are returning the Carbon Tax booklet to the Government, and some have been dropped into my office.”
Mr Hawke said the Carbon tax booklet was a desperate attempt from the Gillard Government to sell a tax the community doesn’t want, and didn’t vote for.
“It is a misleading piece of junk mail which should go straight into people’s recycling bins,” Mr Hawke said.
“Prices will go up and up for families. The booklet fails to tell people how electricity costs are expected to rise by 20 per cent.
“It’s deceptive in omitting information about the increase in tax rates. The Gillard Government is giving with one hand and taking with the other.
“Lifting the tax thresholds while at the same time lifting tax rates is not a tax cut, it’s a tax con,” Mr Hawke said.
Mr Hawke said that at the next election, the Coalition will offer tax cuts, without a carbon tax.
“The Gillard Labor Government is forecasting it will spend $3.5 billion in 2020 to buy 100 million tonnes of carbon credits from overseas, rising to $57 billion in 2010 dollars by 2050.
“In short, the tax won’t decrease actual Australian emissions but it will create a permanent black hole in our budget.
“That will do nothing to reduce Australia’s carbon emissions but you won’t find that information in the booklet.
“Australian voters didn’t vote for this Carbon Tax, they didn’t vote for this junk mail, and it’s time Gillard Government stopped this misleading and political advertising campaign,” Mr Hawke said.
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Thursday, 28 July 2011
Know someone who makes you proud to be an Australian? Now is the time to nominate them for the Australian of the Year Awards, said the Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP.
“The Australian of the Year Awards acknowledges the great achievements of individuals in our community,” Mr Hawke said.
“If there is someone you know in the community, a family member, a friend or someone famous who inspires you, nominate them today.
“This is the chance for you to show your appreciation by nominating that special person who you believe is a great role model in our community.”
All nominees are considered and one nomination is all it takes for their efforts to be recognised for the Australian of the Year Award.
Awards are presented in four categories: the Australian of the Year Award, Australia’s Local Hero Award, Young Australian of the Year Award (ages 16 to 30) and the Senior Australian of the Year Award (aged 60 years or older).
Nominations close midnight Wednesday 31 August 2011.
For more information or to make a nomination please go to: australianoftheyear.org.au or call 1300 655 193.