Regional Australia hit hardest by diesel rebate cuts, Crook

Author: Tony Crook
Published on: 16-September-2011

Nationals WA Federal Member for O’Connor Tony Crook MP has criticised the Labor Government for plans to cut diesel fuel rebates as part of the Carbon Tax package.

Mr Crook raised the issue in Question Time yesterday, asking the Prime Minister why the Labor Government continued to target regional communities through the Carbon Tax.

Mr Crook said the cut would harm regional communities by targeting small mining operations, local governments and service providers, as well as impacting on the construction, manufacturing and retail industries.

“The Labor Government claims that the Carbon Tax will only impact big polluters, but many small businesses in the regions will be impacted by the cut to diesel fuel rebates.”

Mr Crook also claimed the Labor Government has not modelled the impact that the diesel rebate cut will have on regional communities.

“At the end of the day, regional Australians will be worse off than their metropolitan counterparts under the Carbon Tax.

“Every single town in my electorate of O’Connor will be hit by the removal of this rebate – whether you live in small regional communities from Denmark to Leonora; large regional towns from Albany to Kalgoorlie; or anywhere in between, you will be impacted by this tax.”

Mr Crook also warned the Labor Government against pressing forward with plans to remove the diesel fuel rebate on heavy on-road vehicles by 2014.

“Despite the majority of the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee not supporting the removal of the diesel fuel rebate for heavy vehicles the Labor Government insists on penalising regional communities with this measure.”

Mr Crook said road-trains and heavy vehicles are the major artery for goods delivery in regional areas.

“The flow-on effect will hit families in the form of increased fuel and groceries, and it will hit businesses who will have to pay more for freight.

“A tax on heavy vehicles is a tax on regional communities.”

Mr Crook said he would continue to stand up against the Carbon Tax, calling it one element of a “triple-whammy” against regional Western Australia.

“The Carbon Tax, the Mining Tax and the unfair distribution of GST returns are major concerns for regional WA, and I will continue to take a stand where the major parties will not to secure a better deal for our State.”

See this article on the member's website