The news that the power bills of New England residents would increase massively under the Rudd Government’s Emissions Trading Scheme is proof that it is nothing but a big new tax.

The Nationals Duty Senator for New England John Williams says the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has confirmed electricity prices will jump by up to 64 percent over the next three years, much of it because of the Emissions Trading Scheme if it was introduced.

“In New England you can expect  to pay between $577 and $918 a year more by 2013 if Mr. Rudd has his way and takes Australia on the path to poverty.

This is stark evidence that the Nationals have been right to oppose this scheme since day one despite the Government claiming it is the greatest moral challenge of our time.

New England residents greatest challenge would be to balance the family budget as they are forced to pay the ETS tax which will be lumped not just on electricity charges but also on food and other everyday necessities.

After the collapse of the Copenhagen talks, the Prime Minister and his Climate Change Minister are preaching to an ever-diminishing number of Australians on this issue and it is time they consigned it to the bad policy bin”, Senator Williams said.