SARAH HARRIS:
From the Government's corner we're joined by Parliamentary Secretary David Bradbury. Good afternoon Mr Bradbury. The second negative poll in as many days and shoppers yelling at the PM, did the Government expect the carbon tax sell to be this tough?
DAVID BRADBURY:
Well I think you would have had to have been living under a rock to have not expected that to be the case. But certainly from the Prime Minister's perspective, she's very keen to get out there and to talk to people, like doing shopping centre walks as she did today and as she did in my electorate the other day. She's getting out there and talking to people and answering the questions and concerns that they've got and trying to respond to them. I think this is going to be a very difficult challenge for the Government but it's important that we don't run away from the opportunity to stand there, to hear what people's concerns are and to explain what we're doing and why we're doing it and why we think that it's important to build a clean energy future as a country together.
HARRIS:
People seem to be listening to Tony Abbott more than Julia Gillard. As a Government member in a very marginal seat, does that make you nervous?
BRADBURY:
Well I saw Tony Abbott earlier today and he was having a forum and people were listening, but I also understand that people who may have had a different view weren't allowed in to the venue on that occasion. This is a difficult issue. It's a difficult issue because this is a major reform. But in the end, I take the view that an overwhelming majority of scientists say that we need to take action on climate change and an overwhelming majority of economists say this is the best way to do it, to put a price on carbon. Even today, we saw a report released by the Australian National University where an overwhelming number of economists said that they favoured the Governments plan over Mr Abbott's plan. So, this is not easy, but in the end we believe that this is the right way to tackle climate change. The least cost, and most effective way of doing it. We're determined to do that, and to explain to people and to hear their concerns and questions, but to respond to them because we do think this is the right thing to do.
HARRIS:
Mr Bradbury, the Government today has announced new funding for the ACCC to crack down on companies trying to rort the carbon tax. Can you explain to us what that means?
BRADBURY:
We've provided additional funding to the ACCC. They are the watchdog, and we're making sure that they've got the teeth that they need and that they've got the resources to ensure that any businesses who try to use the introduction of a carbon price as an opportunity to jack up their prices above and beyond what is reasonable and above the modest price impacts that we do expect, then the ACCC will bring the full force of the law to those businesses. The full force of that law is quite significant. Under the laws we've introduced earlier this year, for each contravention, a business could be fined up to $1.1 million. So, we also say to all consumers out there that any suppliers of goods and services say to you that they've jacked up their prices because of the carbon price, particularly if they're doing that at the moment when it's not even in, then please contact the ACCC. They're there to investigate these matters and to ensure that people are not ripping you off.
HARRIS:
Yeah hopefully they can keep the rorters in line. David Bradbury, thank you so much for your time this afternoon.
BRADBURY:
Thanks very much Sarah.