Brown seeks resources rent tax on forests
Issued 8 Aug 2010
While agreeing with the Greens call for the removal of tax breaks for the forest industry, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) condemns the Greens for its implied support for a Resource Rent Tax (RRT) on the forestry industry.
LDP Queensland Senate candidate, Jim Fryar, believes that a RRT was what Bob Brown was angling for with the wording of his press release on Friday.
After the language seen in argument for the RSPT, (Rudd’s Resource Rent Tax), Brown’s statement about ‘the destruction of the public’s native forests and wildlife’ makes it clear he will be pushing for the tax on forestry as well,” Mr. Fryar said.
“Brown has made no bones about the fact that he wants these taxes to be set at 50% of profit, and he will be wanting this on forests as well.”
“It should be remembered that the Greens were cheering from the sidelines at the concept of farm forestry, as it would take the pressure off native forests,” said Mr Fryar. “Now they are using it as a whipping horse to stir farmers into supporting their plans to wipe out the coal seam gas industry.”
“Statements by the Greens should in future be prefaced with the words, The Current Truth,” he said.
The Liberal Democrats are strong supporters of the forestry industry and believe it is entitled to compete with imported timber and paper, and to be a world class exporter, without the burden of Greens-inspired regulation and excessive taxation.
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