Groups representing small, medium and large businesses employing millions of people across all sectors of the Australian economy are calling on the parliament to avoid costly delay in the repeal of the carbon tax.

The call by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), the Business Council of Australia (BCA) and the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) coincides with the expected introduction of the repeal legislation today.

The industry groups believe that Australia’s high carbon tax raises business costs unnecessarily, hitting industry competitiveness and investment confidence.

Delaying its removal until the new Senate sits – as would be the effect of the Opposition’s current stance – would achieve nothing for the environment, because it is future price expectations – not just the price today – that influence business investment.

But delay would add substantially to the costs and burdens facing business and households, particularly in electricity contracts. That would be deeply unhelpful as we try to build a more competitive Australia with a better chance of keeping our manufacturing base onshore.

For small business especially, the tax has been a headache that has reduced profitability and, like it does for consumers, makes balancing the books each month much harder.

Industry should be allowed to turn the corner on the new year with uncertainty about the carbon tax resolved, so business can refocus on jobs and competitiveness from day one of the new year.

Our organisations urge the parliament to support repeal of the carbon tax in order to spare small business, large employers and households from months of additional cost and uncertainty.

This parliament has to move beyond polarised politics to address the critical economic issues, building the confidence and the certainty that industry needs to keep Australia strong, competitive and resilient.

Removing the carbon tax is the first step, and the second step is ensuring that the design of the government’s policy enables emissions to be reduced at lowest cost to the economy and in a way which does not adversely impact on industry competitiveness.

For further information contact:

Peter Anderson, Chief Executive, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, mobile 0417 264 862

Tony Melville, Director Public Affairs and Government Relations, Australian Industry Group, mobile 0419 190 347

Scott Thompson, Director, Media and Public Affairs, Business Council of Australia, mobile 0403 241 128

Ben Mitchell, Minerals Council of Australia, telephone (02) 6233 0634, mobile 0419 850 212