Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Small and Family Business) Share this | Hansard source

When Mr Shorten announced Labor's so-called energy policy yesterday, I have to say that he sent a number of shivers up the spine of small business. In particular, he sent a shiver up the spine of the 3.3 million small and family businesses and the 5.7 million Australians they employ. Why? Because Labor have set a 45 per cent emissions reduction target. They have set a 50 per cent renewable energy target. They failed to tell anybody yesterday how they're going to implement it or how it will be paid, but what we do know is this: a 45 per cent emissions reduction target will destroy around 336,000 jobs. They will be destroyed; they will be wiped out. It will wipe around $9,000 from the wages of the average Australian and, of course, it will drive up electricity prices.