The Australian Greens today called on the business community to reject Tony Abbott’s economy-wrecking call not to buy future permits under the Clean Energy Future scheme.
“Tony Abbott has realised that when businesses start buying future carbon permits it will become much harder for him to repeal the carbon price, so he is now threatening the whole economy to get his way,” Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.
“This latest economy-wrecking call of Tony Abbott’s is a triple whammy against the Australian economy.
“If businesses agree not to buy future permits, the certainty that the government and the Greens have provided with this important legislation is undermined.
“The first hit will be against all Australian householders, as the Abbott-induced economic risk increases electricity prices, for no environmental benefit and with not a cent of compensation.
“The second hit will be against all businesses operating in Australia as the costs of capital go up thanks to the Abbott-induced economic risk.
“The third hit will be against the tremendous growth sector of environmental businesses who are getting ready to create thousands of jobs as we begin to put a price on pollution.
“Tony Abbott is playing a very dangerous and very short-sighted game here, and I do not believe that it can last.
“Once the price on pollution is in place, the business sector will want to embrace all the opportunities, including the opportunities to manage their exposure over time in a least cost way.
“We have struck an appropriate balance with the Clean Energy Future package. Tony Abbott’s Opposition has no economic or environmental credibility.”
