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ALP climate policy bill will harm farming land
27-06-2008 The Greens have condemned the ALP for dressing up another tax rort for plantations as climate policy. "This law gives investors an up-front 100% tax deduction on their costs in establishing a plantation with no requirement that the trees be kept in the ground.
The Greens, Nationals and Senator Heffernan joined forces to condemn the bill.
"Why is the ALP determined to drive regional Australia off the land and undermine the viability of their communities with this latest tax gift to plantation growers?" said Dr Mckelvie.
"It is utterly wrong to describe what is a Managed Investment Scheme for tree growers on steroids as a carbon sink scheme.
"There is nothing to stop a company declaring its intention to establish a carbon sink forest, claiming the tax deduction for their establishment costs, and then selling the land to allow the trees to be cut down. This Bill might even the give tax deductions enough to cover the cost of purchasing land for the plantations.
"This law will not result in native vegetation being established in marginal areas, as marginal land does not produce healthy, fast-growing forests.
"These trees will be established on prime agricultural land, buying up water rights, sucking catchments dry and driving more families off the land.
"This tax rort will not produce the intended long term carbon sinks and must be fixed"
For further information please contact: Malcolm McKelvie 0417 364 615