LNP MP takes aim at Abbott over tax hike
A Queensland government MP has launched a savage attack on the Abbott government's fuel excise hike.
Chief Whip Vaughan Johnson accused the government of irresponsibly forging ahead with the rise, at a time when key Queensland industries are suffering.
The Liberal National Party MP said the federal government had some things to learn about how to manage financial woes, saying the timing of the rise, with the economy the way it was, was questionable.
"It is irresponsible management because the economy of this country cannot sustain any sort of an increase in fuel at all," the MP, who'll retire at next year's state election, told parliament on Thursday.
"It seems that if you are the government in Canberra you can do what you like.
He said the excise lift was an impost on industry, business, the family budget "and on everything that moves".
"We should be encouraging productivity," he said.
"Take a long, hard look at the financial situation of the nation, as we did here in Queensland, before any knee-jerk reactions about how to address the issue at hand.
"The federal government has to show leadership and responsibility by putting in place proper taxation after full consultation with the whole nation."
He said the tax hike would bite hard in the vast state of Queensland, with rural producers and mining companies to be hit hard when they were struggling.
"I ask Joe Hockey, Tony Abbott and the federal cabinet to please show some consideration and some compassion as they levy these taxes on the economy of Queensland, Australia," he said.
The government sparked public outcry this week after it announced it would get around Senate opposition to the hike by using regulation to reintroduce regular fuel tax rises that are expected to cost average households an extra 40 cents a week from November 10.
