CARBON TAX

The Hon. S.G. WADE (15:06): I have a supplementary question. I thank the minister for his answer and ask in the context of it: has the minister written to local government mayors to set the record straight (that is, that the tax will directly impact on them) and to the federal parliamentary secretary to ask him to stop denying the impact of the tax on local government fuel costs?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:06): I have not written to any local councils regarding this, but I will say that councils are aware that they have a responsibility to ensure that they do not exaggerate the cost of carbon with regard to putting up their rates. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is also monitoring organisations, and councils will be part of those organisations, that profit from the introduction of the carbon tax. I understand there will be significant penalties for those organisations exaggerating the effects of the carbon price in their rates.