Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. Given European carbon permits are currently trading as low as $8.70 per tonne, with up to 100 per cent protection for emissions intensive and trade exposed industries in the European scheme, why is the Gillard government pressing ahead with the $23 per tonne carbon tax, rising to $29 per tonne in 2015, which will push up the cost of living for Australian families by more than the European scheme, which will make Australian businesses less competitive than businesses under the European scheme and which will cost jobs—and all of that without doing anything to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions?