The Federal Coalition will be seeking amendments to the Rudd Labor Government’s Carbon Pollution Trading Scheme (CPRS) which will see forest contractors significantly better off than under the current flawed legislation.
The Coalition’s Spokesperson on Forestry Richard Colbeck said the Coalition amendments will allow for forest contractors to be brought into the fuel credits scheme.
“The Coalition has listened to industry stakeholders and worked hard to develop common sense amendments to Labor’s flawed and rushed emissions trading scheme,” Senator Colbeck said.
“I have been active in recent weeks putting forward the strong concerns of the forestry industry about the CPRS to the Coalition Shadow Cabinet.
“Industry identified that the Rudd Government’s decision to exclude forest contractors, already suffering from poor economic conditions, would be devastating to the sector.
“The Rudd Government’s scheme had the potential to destroy jobs in the forestry industry.
“While farmers, fishermen and heavy on-road transporters would be included in the fuel credits scheme under the government’s legislation, forest contractors were, inexplicably, left out.
“It has been estimated that the average cost to each contractor would be $14,000.
“The Coalition Party Room’s decision to support these amendments will be much welcomed by forest contractors and the industry generally.
“It is now up to Federal Forestry Minister, Tony Burke, to show the same amount of support for forestry contractors.
“Minister Burke has a stark choice between the Rudd Government’s flawed and costly CPRS or amendments put forward by the Coalition which save Australian forestry jobs.”
SENATOR THE HON RICHARD COLBECK Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
