“TODAY’S vote by the Senate to repeal the Carbon Tax is great news for regional families, agriculture and small businesses”, Member for New England Barnaby Joyce said today.

“Scrapping the Carbon Tax will save the average household around $550 a year, including around $200 on the average household electricity bill and around $70 on the average gas bill. This will reduce cost of living pressures for all Australians,” he said.

“The Government’s consumer watchdog, the ACCC, has been given extra funding and powers to ensure that savings are passed on to consumers.

“Scrapping the Carbon Tax will also take a cost burden off regional businesses. This will make it easier for them to compete and employ more people,” Mr Joyce said.

“I’ve listened to many residents concerned about how this unfair tax has imposed a real burden on their small businesses and their family.

“The Carbon Tax is a $9 billion a year hit on the economy. It hurts small businesses and costs jobs.

“Scrapping this tax has been a grassroots effort – led by the Prime Minister, but helped by the voices of everyday Australians. It may have taken time and there were obstacles along the way, but we’ve done this together,” Mr Joyce said.

“Scrapping the Carbon Tax is just one part of our plan to build a stronger economy and create more jobs. It is also important we get the Budget under control, continue to reduce paperwork and build the infrastructure we need, like the Chaffey Dam augmentation.

“There’s much more to do, but removing the world’s biggest Carbon Tax from the backs of everyday small businesses and families is an important step in building a stronger economy,” Mr Joyce said.