Clean Energy Bills pass through House of Representatives

The Clean Energy Future package has passed through the House of Representatives. This important package of reforms will protect our economy and our environment .  It includes a $15 billion household assistance package that will provide increases in pensions, allowances, family payments and tax cuts.

Under the Government’s plan for a Clean Energy Future, households will receive assistance to help families balance their budgets. This assistance will come through a combination of extra payments and tax cuts.

 It is expected that the carbon price will add 0.7% to the Consumer Price Index. That’s less than a cent for every dollar spent.

A family with two children with a total annual income of $85,000 is expected to face average price increases of $570 per year due to the carbon price. They will receive assistance of around $948 per year through tax cuts and increased Family assistance payments. They will be $378 per year better off.

Under the Government’s plan, single rate pensioners will get a pension increase of $338 per year, and on average will be $134 better off after carbon price impacts. Pensioner couples will get $510 per year extra and will be $226 better off compared to average carbon price impacts. The plan is permanent and ongoing and will be indexed to the CPI.

 The Government’s Clean Energy Future package is about protecting our economy, creating jobs and protecting the environment for our children and grandchildren.

 Tony Abbott and the Coalition voted against the Government’s Clean Energy Future Package and they want to clawback household assistance if they win Government.   Tony Abbott has confirmed that if he wins the next election, he will cut back the Government’s entire Household Assistance package.

What he is saying is that under an Abbott Coalition Government all pensions, allowances and family payments will be reduced and taxpayers will have their tax cuts ripped away.

 Climate change is real and the Gillard Labor Government will get on with the job of providing proper assistance to households as we move to a clean energy future together. The Bills will be debated in the Senate in November, and will come into effect by July next year.