Working families across Australia can now confidently expect massive increases in their household and business power bills as a result of the Rudd Government’s proposed Emissions Trading Scheme, Senator Ron Boswell said today. Senator Boswell was commenting on the decision today of the New South Wales Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal to increase power prices in NSW by up to 64% over the next three years, citing the Government’s proposed ETS as the major influence on their decision.
Household power bills will increase by between $577 and $918 a year by 2013 in NSW according to IPART.
Senator Boswell predicted IPART’s reasoning would ultimately apply across the country, and power prices in all states and territories would rise significantly over time because of the ETS.
He said the National Party’s opposition to an ETS was based in part on recognition that such big hits on family budgets were inevitable, while the scheme would have near zero impact on global emissions.
“Australians will pay through the nose simply so the Prime Minister and his Climate Change Minister can enjoy the warm inner glow of being politically correct climate change fanatics on the national and world stage,” Senator Boswell said.
“The IPART decision confirms they are prepared to let Australian families suffer so they can be seen to be sensitive to the issue for the sake of their own egos.
“These increases will ricochet through the economy, increasing costs and prices across the board. It won’t just be power bills that go up.
“Meanwhile, what Australia does on climate change, given we produce only around 1% of greenhouse gas emissions, is globally meaningless.”
Senator Boswell said the Government should kill the ETS today.
Southern Courier, 18 March 2010