Carbon stance under fire

By Tania Martin
LA TROBE MP Jason Wood has hit back at claims he has let down families in the Dandenongs by voting against the Federal Government’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETC) in Parliament last week.
This comes after State Government minister and Monbulk MP James Merlino weighed into the argument.
Mr Merlino accused Mr Wood of taking a risk on future generations after refusing to cross the floor with former Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull.
“When it comes to protecting the environment, Jason Wood has proven himself to be a fake … while he likes to talk about weeds and pretend he cares about our children’s future, when he had the chance to finally do something about it in Federal Parliament he went missing,” he said.
Mr Merlino said it was now clear to all hills residents that when Mr Wood talks about climate change it was only to get their vote.
“He doesn’t have the courage to deliver his so-called environmental convictions … he is clearly a climate change sceptic as he didn’t have the guts to cross the floor with his former boss,” he said.
But Mr Wood has denied he is a climate change sceptic.
He hit back at Mr Merlino last Friday, saying when it came to the environment the Monbulk MP had no credibility.
“He does not even state a position on climate change and has done nothing for weeds or fuel reduction in the area,” Mr Wood said.
“My position when it comes to climate change and my view hasn’t changed is that the emissions trading target should be 25 per cent – I haven’t walked away from that and he (Merlino) hasn’t even stated a position.”
Mr Wood said both the Coalition and Labor Government policies on climate change had only allocated a five per cent target, which he couldn’t agree to.
He said the Rudd Government’s scheme would costs billions and still has the same reduced targets.
“I would rather back the Coalition’s direct action compared to the Labor Government policy … how could you trust an ETC claiming to cost billions,” Mr Wood said.
The Coalition’s scheme claims to only cost $3.2 billion compared to Labour’s $40 billion in the same time period.
He said it was not only the Coalition but the Greens and independent parties that had voted against the ETC.
“Only the Labor guys were for it and to me a huge tax doesn’t back directly into helping the environment,” Mr Wood said.