I can confirm that the Gillard government will apply the carbon tax to trucks above 4.5 tonnes from July 1, 2014. For Bill, who operates a tow truck business with one truck over 4.5 tonnes and one under 4.5 tonnes, this means one of the trucks he operates will pay the carbon tax and the other one will not. 

This will create extra costs for Bill’s small business and extra paperwork. Whether you are a small operator or a major fleet, if you run a truck over 4.5 tonnes you will pay the carbon tax, in Bill’s case through his Business Activity Statement (BAS). It is worth recalling what Bill states in his letter: “I was hoping to employ someone to operate one of the trucks in the future, but with the threat of the carbon tax and increased fuel prices I don’t know if this will now be possible.” 

The carbon tax is job destroying and Bill’s example goes to show that the claims from Prime Minister Gillard that only the biggest polluters will pay the carbon tax is deceiving. It’s small businesses like Bill Stewart’s which are going to pay through higher fuel costs for running a business and through higher freight charges for deliveries. The Gillard-Greens government introduced the carbon tax after telling our electorate before the last election it wouldn’t. 

As Bill clearly articulates in his letter, businesses large and small are now paying the price for this deceit.

Dan Tehan, MP, member for Wannon