Peter Dutton yesterday defended his decision to keep Australia in the Paris climate accord, despite Donald Trump this week pulling America out.
Like Labor, the Teals and Greens, the Coalition is not serious about addressing cost of living while it keeps our electricity system shackled to an unrealistic global agreement which the big emitters are not even signed up to.
In a radio interview Dutton gave his rationale for forcing mums and dads to continue paying the Paris premium on their electricity bills.
“We are an export nation, so unlike the United States we are a small nation, we are a population of only 27 million people.
“We produce more than we can consume and farmers and manufacturers rely on markets in Asia, in Europe, in America, to export our products.
“And we have signed up to an international agreement which, I think, will have continuing relevance for countries in Europe.
“The future dynamic can change but we have to act in our country’s best interests and to have European countries, for example but not exclusively, apply tariffs to our exports would mean a loss of economic activity here, a loss of jobs.”
But Queensland LNP Senator Matt Canavan immediately contradicted his leader, posting on X late yesterday:
“Some people claim that we have to stay in Paris agreement because otherwise our exports would be hit with carbon tariffs.
“The EU is the only region proposing to do this. Their carbon tariffs would impact just 0.11% of our exports.
“Not even worth worrying about it!”
Dutton misses the fact that America, China, Indonesia and India are either not in Paris or are not complying.
That leaves a few European countries which as Canavan said account for so little of our trade they are not worth worrying about.
Family First agrees with Matt Canavan and Donald Trump.
The Trump administration believes US taxpayers will save $1 trillion by pulling out of Paris.
That means Australian mums and dads would save billions.
Dutton keeps claiming that Labor has secret Paris emissions targets for 2035 which will hit households hard but yesterday the Opposition confirmed it too would have Paris targets for the 2030s.
Like Labor, the Coalition has refused to release them before the election.
With emissions targets the cause of the electricity price and cost of living crisis, neither party can claim to be serious about what is the number one issue at this election.
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott yesterday said an incoming Dutton government should, like Trump, declare an “energy emergency”.
With prices through the roof, the grid in a fragile state with continual warnings of blackouts by the Australian Energy Market Operator, Family First agrees with Abbott.
Family First’s Senate team of Katie Lush (Qld), Lyle Shelton (NSW), Bernie Finn (Vic) and Christopher Brohier (SA) is fighting for cheaper power.
Protect your family at this election, vote 1 Family First.