FED:Drop tax during economic turmoil: Bishop

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2011
FED:Drop tax during economic turmoil: Bishop

EDS: Reissuing, fixing typo in second par

PERTH, Aug 5 AAP - The federal government should abandon plans to introduce a carbon
tax while international markets are in turmoil, Acting Opposition Leader Julie Bishop
says.

She told reporters in Perth on Friday that business and consumer confidence in Australia
was still fragile.

"The Australian government should not be imposing a carbon tax on our economy at this time."

Ms Bishop said the proposed tax was creating enormous uncertainty, particularly among
small businesses who would not receive compensation for the increased costs they would
have to bear.

She said the government should drop plans for the tax and wait for the next election.

"The government has to accept that the Australian people do not want a carbon tax," she said.

Ms Bishop said the tax would cause "enormous economic pain for very little environmental gain.

AAP ldj/dg/jlw

KEYWORD: ECONOMY BISHOP (REISSUING)

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