Labor and the Greens must rule out a taxpayer funded advertising campaign to sell their carbon tax, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Simon Birmingham said today.
 
It follows strong signals in the last 24 hours from Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Greens Senator Christine Milne that a carbon tax advertising blitz is on the cards:
 
“Look, on Government advertising, from time to time we advertise to get necessary information to people. So I’m not going to rule in or rule out Government advertising in the future.”
Julia Gillard, 7.30, ABC TV, 8 March 2011
 
“Well, I certainly think they’re… that the community needs to better understand what is being attempted here…”
Christine Milne, AM, ABC Radio, 9 March 2011
 
“Through last year’s budget papers and Senate Estimates we know the Rudd-Gillard Government earmarked $30 million for a campaign associated with carbon pricing,” Senator Birmingham said.
 
“Both the Government and the Greens should clearly state that this money, or even larger sums, will not be spent trying to convince taxpayers they’ll be better off with a carbon tax that will make their lives more expensive.
 
“It would be an outrageous double dip for the Government to reach into taxpayer pockets to fund a campaign selling the merits of the Government reaching further into taxpayers’ pockets.
 
“It would also be the height of hypocrisy for the Greens to support such an advertising campaign, given their track record of vigorously opposing taxpayer funded political advertising.
 
“Julia Gillard should clearly state that all attempts to sell us her flawed carbon tax policy will be made on the merits of her arguments and not through dipping into taxpayers’ pockets.
 
“And the Greens must clearly state their opposition to any such multi-million dollar waste of taxpayer dollars.”