JOURNALIST: Polls show the nation is largely sceptical about the tax. Every member of this Government has really got a big task on their hands, havent they?
WONG: I understand that Australians are concerned about this and they want to understand what the policy is and what were putting forward to the Australian people. And thats why the Prime Minster and all of us are out there talking to you and to others about what weve put on the table.
This is a plan that tackles climate change, that reduces pollution and delivers tax cuts and assistance through increased payments to Australians. Remember, under this plan anyone earning up to $80,000 gets a tax cut. So weve got tax reform and were also tackling climate change.
JOURNALIST: Senator, Julia Gillard claims Australians believe climate change is real and they want action. But lets face it they dont want it to hit their back pockets. And they dont believe the Government can deliver on the promises. What do you say to that?
WONG: Well unfortunately there isnt a cost-free way to tackle climate change. And if there was, someone would have found it by now. What we want to do is what John Howard understood was the sensible thing to do which is to put a price on carbon so we can adjust our economy to a cleaner energy future at the lowest cost to Australians and Australian families. Thats what this package does compared with Mr Abbotts package which is simply slugging taxpayers with higher tax levels, a contribution of $720 a year from Australian households for little gain, if any, for the environment.
JOURNALIST: Environment groups have praised the package, theyre pretty happy. But they wanted less compensation for heavy emitters. Why didnt the Government go harder on them?
WONG: Because were a Labor Government and we will support jobs. Just as weve ensured that in the time weve been in Government weve seen 750,000 jobs created within the economy, just as we stepped in during the global financial crisis to protect Australian jobs, we will support jobs through this transition. The whole point here is to move from where we are to a cleaner energy future for Australia. That means youve got to fund transitional programs, youve got to fund support in the meantime and youve got to build the investment in clean energy. Thats what this package does.
JOURNALIST: Senator Wong, youre the former climate change minister. Why should Australians embrace this carbon tax?
WONG: Because climate change isnt going away. And we need to do something about it. Because for the last five years this country has argued about it.
We previously had agreement about the way forward when we had John Howard and Malcolm Turnbull. And now we have Tony Abbott who simply wants to oppose everything. I mean, hes even opposing the tax cuts which is extraordinary. We need to do something about this because if we dont I think in five or 10 or 15 years, well all look back and think we should have done that, we should have acted.
JOURNALIST: Senator Penny Wong in Adelaide, thank you so much for your time this morning.
WONG: Good to speak with you.
ENDS