Who Is Running This Country

16 Sep 11

The Greens’ call for the Federal Coalition to support a motion for an enquiry into manufacturing is breath-taking hypocrisy, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation, Industry and Science Senator Richard Colbeck said.

“The Greens opposition to manufacturing development is legendary,” Senator Colbeck said.

“The Greens are spending significant energy opposing the only major manufacturing project currently being proposed in Australia, the Gunns pulp mill.

“In fact, the Greens Senators and MPs have gone out of their way to destroy the reputation of the company proposing the project and to destroy its markets.

“Earlier this year the Greens joined with Labor Senators to vote against the establishment of a Senate select committee into the future viability of the food processing sector.

“The inquiry was established in spite of this, but the Greens have subsequently declined to participate.

“The Greens also have led the charge in referring to major manufacturers as "big polluters", being at the forefront of campaigns to damage Australian manufacturers’ markets and pushing for a carbon tax that will threaten jobs and decimate business confidence.

“And don’t forget it was Greens support which saw the R&D Tax Credit amendments passed last month – amendments predicted to decimate support for R&D in manufacturing.

“Australian industry is missing out on considerable opportunity due to the prejudiced Greens policy that is being foisted on our country as a result of the partnership with a weak Labor Party.

“The Greens’ feigned concern for the manufacturing sector cannot be taken seriously,” Senator Colbeck said.