Federal Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan, has hit out at the Gillard government’s carbon tax today, after the latest report, released by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) confirms that the carbon tax will likely cripple Australia’s agricultural industry.
New research revealed today by the NFF confirms that Australian farmers will be hit by massive rises in input costs under the Federal Government’s proposed carbon tax.
The figures show that farmers may face more than $36,000 a year in additional farm business costs under the proposed tax, severely impacting the profitability and sustainability of Australian farms and farming families.
Mr Tehan today supported the NFF’s call for the carbon tax to be rejected on the basis that it will make Australian farmers less competitive in both domestic and international markets.
“The Report that the NFF released today proves what the Coalition has been saying all along – Julia Gillard’s Carbon Tax is going to hurt our farmers, and all the local communities they contribute to,” Mr Tehan said.
The research, conducted by independent researchers at the Australian Farm Institute on behalf of NFF members and individual agricultural commodity groups, analyses the impact of a carbon price on Australian farm businesses under various scenarios. The first paper, released today, focuses on the Australian grains sector.
The report that has been released today shows that under the scenario of a carbon price of $36 per tonne, five years after the introduction of a carbon tax, an average WA grain farm would be hit by additional annual costs of $36,882.
“Our farmers are already struggling to compete in the global marketplace as the sector has a high level of trade exposure, and this additional carbon tax will make it extremely difficult for our local farmers to compete,” Mr Tehan said.
“For grain farmers in western Victoria and for the dairy industry who use grain as a key feed component, this report demonstrates why the Coalition’s Direct Action Plan is a far superior approach to that of a carbon tax.
“This report demonstrates why Julia Gillard ruled out introducing a carbon tax before the election, and clearly shows why the two country Independents should support their local communities and vote against it,” Mr Tehan said.
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