Saturday, 17 May 2014

TWISTED PRIORITIES BUDGET EXPOSES GREG HUNT'S LIE


Media Release



Mark Butler MP.

Shadow Minister for Environment
 Climate Change and Water


Date:  14 May 2014

The Abbott Government has been caught out short-changing its signature Direct Action policy by more than $1 billion in the Budget, putting beyond doubt that it will waste billions to pay big polluters without achieving its own emission reduction targets.
On 24 April, Environment Minister Greg Hunt proudly claimed to have found an extra $1 billion for the fourth year of the Emissions Reduction Fund, making it a total of commitment of $2.55 billion over four years.
But the Budget papers show this $2.55 billion is actually committed over 10 years, not four as Minister Hunt has repeatedly said since unveiling the Emissions Reduction Fund last month, which has been widely panned by economists, business and environmental groups. Only $1.14 billion has been allocated in the Budget across four years.
“In line with the Government's long standing policy, the forward estimates commitment to the ERF will be $2.55 billion, with further funding to be considered in future budgets.”
“While it barely seemed possible, last night saw Tony Abbott backslide even further on Australia’s fight against climate change,” Shadow Minister for Climate Change Mark Butler said. 
“The centrepiece of Tony Abbott’s climate policy has been slashed by more than half from $2.55 billion to $1.5 billion in what is the latest of a long list of broken promises.”
“Any slim hope of Tony Abbott’s policy achieving Australia’s target of reducing carbon pollution is now utterly lost. But what’s worse is that it will cost taxpayers $2.55 billion at a time when the Government is slashing health and education spending and increasing taxes.
“This fig leaf of a climate policy – to use Malcolm Turnbull’s words – now lies in tatters,” Mr Butler said.
Economists and scientists have long said that the Emissions Reduction Fund is nothing more than smoke and mirrors.
Tony Abbott seems determined to prove them right. 

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