Senator hits back at Hartsuyker

Cowper MP Luke Hartsuyker.

Related links

• Hartsuyker: Carbon tax double hit

ACCORDING to Labor's duty Senator for Cowper Matt Thistlethwaite, local federal MP Luke Hartsuyker is guilty of reckless misrepresentation of the facts when it comes to the implemention of the Carbon Tax on July 1.

Senator Thistlethwaite has also said that the stance of the opposition front-bencher on the subject shows that he is turning his back on North Coast pensioners.

"By opposing the Government's Clean Energy Future package the Cowper MP has made it clear he would deprive North Coast pensioners of vital assistance," Senator Thistlethwaite said.

Responding to comments made by Mr Hartsuyker on the Coffs Coast Advocate's website on Tuesday, the Senator said he couldn't hold his tongue.

"The Government will deliver tax cuts and assistance payments that will be over and above the cost impact of the carbon price but according to Mr Hartsuyker's comments it's clear he wants to scrap these increases," he said. 

Mr Hartsuyker claimed that his constituents would suffer from an increase in electricity costs being passed on to them while important domestic tourism would flounder.

"Again, he is wrong," the Senator said.

"Mr Hartsuyker pointed to a Qantas announcement that the carrier would increase their charges but what he didn't clarify was by how much.

"The carbon price will have only a small impact on domestic airfares with both Qantas and Virgin putting it at around $3-$3.50 per seat, per sector.

"Meanwhile more than 34,500 pensioners in Cowper will receive an extra $338 extra per year if they are single and up to $510 per year for couples combined in their pension payments."

Senator Thistlethwaite also stated that from July 1 a total of 13,600 families in Cowper will receive household assistance through their Family assistance payments while 7,200 Jobseekers in the local federal seat will get up to $218 extra per year for singles and $390 per year for couples combined.

Also 3,400 single parents in Cowper will get an extra $289 per year and more than 3,600 students will get up to $177 extra per year.

"On top of this, taxpayers in Cowper with annual income of under $80,000 will all get a tax cut with most receiving at least $300 per year," he said.

"July 1 will signal the beginning of a more environmentally responsible and economically prosperous era for Australia and thankfully an end to the most heinous fear campaign this country has ever seen."