The mining tax and climate change policies of Bob Brown’s Greens would turn Rockhampton into a ghost town and decimate the Central Queensland economy if Labor wins the August 21 election and the Greens control the Senate, LNP Capricornia candidate Michelle Landry and Senator Ron Boswell said today.

Anti-Rocky and Central Queensland Greens policies include:

• A 40% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020, via a carbon tax and a carbon trading scheme.

• A 50% Resource Super Profits Tax.

• No new coal mines, and no expansion of existing coal mines

Senator Boswell said the preference swap between Labor and the Greens late last month virtually guaranteed the Greens would control the Senate from next July, and voters in Capricornia contemplating supporting them, for either house in the election, should closely examine their policies.

The Greens want what was once known as the Resource Super Profits Tax to be set at 50%.  Ousted Labor leader Kevin Rudd proposed the RSPT at 40% but was toppled after most Australians recognised the tax would do massive damage to the economy.  Labor back-flipped under new Leader Julia Gillard and dropped the rate to an effective 22.5% on a narrower base.

Ms Landry said the Greens plans for a 50% RSPT were grossly irresponsible, and frighteningly achievable under a re-elected Labor Government.  She said they would devastate mining and vastly increase energy costs across Australia.  Higher energy costs would translate into higher cost of living across the board.

The Greens bid for a minimum 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 was even sillier and more dangerous, Ms Landry said.  Senator Boswell said a forced push to 40% emissions reduction in ten years was a recipe to shut Rockhampton, Central Queensland, and Australia down.  “These cannot be regarded as serious policy positions by anybody who wants a job, food on the table, and electric light.”

Ms Landry urged everybody to very carefully consider the potential results for Rockhampton, the region, and the country, from support for the Greens, especially given the potential they will hold the balance of power in the Senate and could win big concessions from a Labor government so beholden to them.

ENDS