House debates Questions without Notice

Carbon Pricing

Thursday, 13 September 2012 House of Representatives

Stuart Robert

Stuart Robert Fadden, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science, Technology and Personnel

3:06 pm

My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Acting Prime Minister, I refer you to this letter and power bill from Ernest and Marjorie Clark in my electorate, which shows that their off-peak power has gone up by a whopping 25.5 per cent since the introduction of the carbon tax. They write, 'As pensioners we find it hard to cover costs for everyday living let alone to be hit with increases in power costs above the 10 per cent promised by the Prime Minister.' Why did the government mislead Ernest and Marjorie by promising, before the last election, that it would not introduce a carbon tax? (Time expired)

Wayne Swan

Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer

3:07 pm

It may have something to do with the $400 per household that is paid by them to meet Campbell Newman's taxation of the power system. It may have a lot to do with that. We have had a lot of discussion about the impact of a carbon price on electricity. The government has outlined the impact time and time again. Those are the figures that have been published. Any claims over and above those are simply part of a scare campaign. I reckon people in Queensland have got a lot to fear from Campbell Newman when it comes to electricity, given how much he is ripping off, putting into his budget and then transferring on to households like the ones in the member's electorate. Do you want to know something? They are pretty cranky about it.

Ms Anna Burke

Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker

The member for Fadden is seeking to table some documents.

Stuart Robert

Stuart Robert Fadden, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science, Technology and Personnel

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I seek leave to table Ernest and Marjorie's bill. By the way, Campbell Newman throws the electricity tariff into—

Ms Anna Burke

Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker

Leave is not granted. The member for Fadden is warned.

Mr Robert interjecting—

The member for Fadden will leave the chamber under standing order 94(a).

The member for Fadden then left the chamber.

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House

No, and I table a media release from Liljana Mularczyk JP, the Principal of Merrylands High School, entitled 'A dark day for public education in New South Wales'.