Albana’s government denies plans to introduce a new gas tax, despite a clause in Labour’s draft National Platform endorsing the plan.
Labor Party delegates from across the country will come together to discuss the platform at the three-day National Conference in Adelaide later this week.
While the federal faction of the Labor Party has final say over the policies the Albana government pursues at elections, the National Platform sets out the party’s values and long-term policy goals.
And the draft version, which will be discussed by delegates, seems to support the demands of trade unions to introduce a cent duty on gas exports.
“Labor will ensure that the Australian people receive a fairer return on their natural resources, including through appropriate taxation mechanisms, while ensuring Australia’s role as a reliable international energy supplier and investment partner,” the article says.
But Labour’s Matt Thistlethwaite denied the party was planning to introduce a gas tax, telling Sky News Australia’s Pete Stefanovic that was “not the case”.
“This is a draft proposal. It has not yet been adopted,” said the assistant immigration minister.
Mr Thistlethwaite said the party had already made significant changes to the way natural resources were taxed, changing the oil rent tax and introducing a 20 per cent gas reserve policy.
“These are the only plans we have to reform gas taxation,” he said.
But Liberal senator Maria Kovacic said the party had already gone further than before changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax.
“It seems to me that this is a step further than the Prime Minister’s statement that there will be no new tax, since it is now in draft form,” said Senator Kovacic.
“And let’s be clear: at this national conference, the unions will make demands and the unions will get what they want. And if they want a gas tax, they will get a gas tax, and it doesn’t matter what the prime minister says.”
Australia’s leading trade union organisation, the ACTU, which has significant influence within the Australian Labor Party, has called for a 25 per cent gas tax.
But Mr Thistlethwaite said it was Labor’s federal caucus that set the policy that was passed to Parliament, adding that it had “no plans to change gas taxes”.
Deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume also weighed in on Monday, pointing to previous instances where the government has reneged on its election commitments.
“We must never forget that the Labor Party is the political arm of the trade union movement. So if the unions want a higher gas tax, they will get a higher tax,” she said.
“And even if the Prime Minister says: no, we will never have a gas tax, you can take my word for it.
“Well, let’s face it: We took him at his word about negative gearing, about capital gains, about trust fund taxes, about pension taxes, about the $275 rebate on your energy bills.
“His word is worthless.”