by STEPHEN POLLOCK
THE Liberal Party has become so green it’s now recycling its own spin.
The Voice received media releases, lambasting Federal Labor’s passing of the carbon tax, from Federal Liberal Stirling MP Michael Keenan and Perth Liberal senator Mathias Cormann.
Both releases had five identical direct quotes, including:
• “The coalition’s commitment to the Australian people is that we will continue to do everything in our power to fight this toxic tax,” Mr Keenan/Senator Cormann said.
In the unique sections, Mr Cormann said Perth Federal Labor MP Stephen Smith had “betrayed the people of Perth today by voting for the carbon tax.”
“Stephen Smith voted for this job-destroying carbon tax and abandoned jobs and industries in Perth,” he said.
“This fundamental betrayal is going to impact on peoples’ cost of living and it is going to make their jobs less secure.”
Mr Smith said the tax would actually benefit the community.
“The revenue from the scheme will go to permanently increasing the pension and family payments, permanently reducing taxes, and investing in clean energy and pollution
abatement,” he said.
“It will also create new opportunities for local businesses including in renewable energy.
“Recent independent modelling has found that the average Australian household will be $2.50 better off per week under the carbon pricing scheme when tax cuts and pension increases are factored in.”
When the Voice asked Adam Le Lievre, Mr Cormann’s media advisor, if he was aware that both press releases had the same direct quotes, he tersely replied “Yes.”
The Gillard government’s controversial carbon tax was passed by the House of Representatives (74-72) on October 11.
Meanwhile, councils in Voiceland have no idea how much the proposed carbon tax is likely to push up rubbish charges.
• Perth city council CEO Frank Edwards says the PCC is “expecting some increase” but couldn’t quote an exact figure until the Mindarie Regional Council, where the PCC dumps rubbish, had analysed figures.
• Vincent city council CEO John Giorgi says the tipping rate per tonne is currently “$123 per tonne” for MRC members and he’ll have to wait and see.
• “If there is an increase in landfill costs then the appropriate proportion of this would have to be passed on to ratepayers and customers,” says Stirling waste manager Eddy Albrecht.
Australian Landfill Owners Association says the $23-a-tonne pollution price could drive rubbish charges up by $36 a tonne from July 2013.
“We want to know how much this carbon tax is going to affect ratepayers wallets with the extra levy on rubbish in rates,” says Bayswater City Residents’ Association president Tony Green
