Fuel excise a 'carbon tax on steroids', Anthony Albanese says following Tony Abbott's US meeting

Extract from ABC News

By political reporter Latika Bourke

Updated Fri 13 Jun 2014, 4:39pm AEST

Related Story: Liberals boast of 'playing the Nats' over fuel excise

Map: Australia

Labor says Prime Minister Tony Abbott has conceded the fuel excise is a "carbon tax on steroids" following remarks about the scheme the PM made in the US.

Mr Abbott told US president Barack Obama during wide-ranging private discussions in Washington the fuel excise, which the Government announced would increase in the budget, was acting like a carbon price signal.
Australia is resisting pressure to put climate change on the agenda for the G20 Leaders summit meeting in Brisbane in November, but the leaders agreed to discuss energy efficiency.
Labor's transport spokesman Anthony Albanese seized on the Prime Minister's comments, telling the ABC Mr Abbott's remarks had exposed the real truth.

"He's railed about a price on carbon wrecking the economy, now he's conceded that his big new petrol tax is just that – it's a carbon tax on steroids," Mr Albanese said.
He said the Prime Minister's message changed depending on whom he was speaking to.
"This is one message in the United States but a very different message to what he's giving to the Australian people.
"There is no doubt that this is a carbon price signal but the problem is that it is not one in which there are other options. People won't be able to change their behaviour if you don't have an option of public transport."
But Acting Prime Minister and Nationals leader Warren Truss said the fuel excise could not be likened to Labor's carbon tax or trading scheme.
"It's not a carbon tax, it applies only to fuel used by motorists," he told reporters in Queanbeyan.

"It won't be applying effectively to the trucking industry, who pay their contribution towards roads through the road user charge, so I don't think it can be likened to a carbon tax."