PORT Macquarie members of Climate Change Australia are calling on the government to cut fossil fuel subsidies to some of the richest companies in the world.
The group is part of a national campaign in the run-up to the federal budget called Paid to Pollute.
Drusi Megget said the worst example was the diesel fuel tax rebate, costing taxpayers nearly $5 billion a year.
This means mining companies get a tax rebate on their fuel, paying only six cents a litre, while everyone else pays 38 cents a litre.
Taken together, fossil fuel subsidies amount to over $12 billion each year in Australia.
“This money can be better spent on renewable energy, or funding the balance of the NDIS, the Gonski school reforms, public hospitals, and public infrastructure like the NBN, roads and railways,” Ms Megget said.
“Spending on these programs can provide a boost to productivity instead of the money going to already-wealthy companies to explore, mine, buy equipment, and in other ways use and export more fossil fuels.
“Government money should go to industries of the future, which will create jobs that last.”
A campaign website was recently launched, which explains the top four polluting subsidies in Australia, and includes a petition to government.
You can find it at www.paidtopollute.org.au
