Independent federal Member of Parliament Tony Windsor says he is aware of the growing list of concerns over the proposed carbon tax, but he still wants action taken.
As miners, retailers and social service providers join forces to warn of the impact a carbon tax would have on the economy and individuals, Mr Windsor, who supports the minority Labor government, has said there will be pain if climate change is to be arrested.
“On a personal level, if people do determine that they want to do something about this, it will cause some short-term pain,” the MP for New England told reporters on Tuesday.
On Monday the Australian Council of Social Service joined the growing list of groups concerned by the impact of a carbon tax.
ACOSS chief Cassandra Goldie said it was vital families were not left poorer by the tax.
It was important each family was treated independently because some had health needs, for example, that required them to use more electricity than the average household.
“What we are proposing is that Treasury model types of households and calculate what would be an adequate fixed amount for that household,” Dr Goldie said on Monday.
Mr Windsor did not respond directly to Dr Goldie’s comments but did offer a passionate appeal to take action for the future.
“If you’re thinking about your great-great-grandchildren and what sort of a world they will they live in, are you prepared to take the risk of doing nothing?”
Windsor admitted he did not know if climate change was the threat suggested by many scientists.
“But I don’t know absolutely that smoking causes lung cancer or alcohol’s not good for your liver. We will never have absolutes in these things.”
