VIDEO: Check out what locals think of the carbon tax repeal below.
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LOCAL environmentalists have accused New England MP Barnaby Joyce of “selling out our future” and scotched claims the repeal of the carbon tax would save households hundreds of dollars each year.
The federal Senate yesterday abolished the controversial tax after a hiccup in the form of the Palmer United Party last week.
Mr Joyce said the fulfillment of the government’s election promise would benefit regional families, small businesses, pensioners and the agriculture sector.
“We in the Coalition have to be the champions for cheaper power prices,” Mr Joyce said.
“Scrapping the carbon tax will save the average household around $550 a year, including around $200 on the average household electricity bill and around $70 on the average gas bill. This will reduce cost of living pressures for all Australians.”
But Tamworth environmentalist Robin Gunning said households may lose $3500 in other government payments linked to the carbon and mining taxes.
“It’s a very sad day for Australia – we have just gone backwards,” Dr Gunning said.
“It was the most business-smart way to combat climate change. The people who were polluting our atmosphere were having to pay for it.”
The repeal sparked mixed reactions on the streets of Tamworth.
Local woman Jo-Anne Cooper said the repeal would be “detrimental” to the environment.
“They put a tax on there for a reason – it helps to make big businesses a little more responsible.”