Legislative Council Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Question Time Carbon Tax CARBON TAX The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY Legislative Council Leader of the Opposition CARBON TAX The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (15:11): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the very first question of the new Minister for Industrial Relations regarding the carbon tax and the union movement. Leave granted. The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY Legislative Council The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: The Transport Workers Union revealed yesterday that truck drivers and small trucking operators face charges of up to $200 a week on fuel alone, with no way to recover the cost under the carbon tax proposed by the Australian government. The TWU national secretary, Tony Sheldon, says: If the driver is left to carry the can on increases to fuel due to a price on carbon, then drivers will be put under more economic pressure on the roads. The TWU is the very trade union that gave the Minister for Industrial Relations an entree into politics. Before entering parliament, members would remember the Hon. Mr Wortley was a TWU official, and the TWU says drivers will be working the equivalent of an extra day a week in a six or seven-day week to make the same wages they are now. Meanwhile, Labor senator Glenn Sterle says Labor is following the 'lunatic' Greens and Senator Sterle would back the TWU. My question to the minister is: does he back a carbon tax, or does he agree with the TWU? The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY Legislative Council Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:12): I thank the honourable member for my very first question. On Sunday the Prime Minister will give a statement in regard to the carbon tax and will outline, I imagine, quite a lot of detail regarding compensation for anyone who may require it. I would like to make the point that during this whole debate there has been misrepresentation, innuendo and very misleading— The Hon. D.W. Ridgway Legislative Council The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Do you support it? The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY Legislative Council The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Let me finish the answer, if I may. On Sunday the Prime Minister will give quite a lengthy statement, I understand, and I support the Prime Minister of this country and I support the carbon tax. I also support the compensation package that will be given to those who are in need. The Hon. A. Bressington Legislative Council The Hon. A. Bressington: What's in it? The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY Legislative Council The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: You'll find out Sunday. Hold your breath until Sunday. Members interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Ridgway has a supplementary.