Most Australian Businesses Continue Fight Against Carbon Tax
Public Campaign Lodged
Members of Australia's largest and most representative business organization, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) are taking the concerns of business and ACCI's member organizations about the proposed carbon tax to the community through support of an advertising campaign by the Australian Trade and Industry Alliance (ATI) which commenced on Thursday.
ATI formed by business groups across the economy, such as The Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Coal Association, the Minerals Council and the Housing Industry Association will communicate important information about the impact of the proposed carbon tax on industry and jobs.
ACCI's Chief Executive Peter Anderson said, "with the carbon tax debate entering a phase where Members of Parliament will be required to vote, the views of business need to be clearly expressed and understood by the community and its representatives."
"Embedding an economy wide carbon price into the costs of doing business when comparable action is not being taken by Australia's competitor nations is a flawed approach to climate policy that risks jobs and is unfair to small business."
"ACCI acknowledges efforts by the Government to provide compensation to households and some industry, but going alone as a nation means carbon tax pain for no climate gain," Peter Anderson said.
"This is the message of the advertising, which reflects the strong and overwhelming sentiment of the business sector."
"Our goal is to inform the community, secure an open minded debate and reconsideration of the issue by the Parliament," Peter Anderson said.
Federal Climate Change Minister Greg Combet is adamant nothing will persuade the Gillard Government to abandon the carbon price.
"You've got to stand up for what you believe in. We must make this reform, this is a long-term reform to our economy, that will have environmental benefit," Mr Combet told Channel Nine.