Richard Boyd Barrett slams carbon tax as unfair punitive hit on poor

Richard Boyd Barrett criticised the carbon tax as unfair and punitive, arguing it disproportionately hits the poor and council-house residents. He said retrofit, public transport investment and fare reductions were missing from the government's response to the climate emergency.

Critique of the carbon tax

Barrett described the measure as an "unfair regressive and frankly dishonest approach" to the climate emergency, calling it punitive, aggressive and harmful to low-income people.

Barriers to retrofitting council housing

He said people living in council houses cannot retrofit their homes because they are not allowed to do so themselves, and must wait for local authorities. Barrett cited his area where local authorities were retrofitting only around two percent of the housing stock each year.

Public transport shortcomings

Barrett argued public transport policy was inadequate, noting low subsidies and an insufficient bus fleet. He said people in his area and others cannot get on buses in the morning because there are not enough vehicles, and asked where funding would come from to add buses or reduce fares.

Evidence from free travel for pensioners

He pointed out that pensioners with free travel use public transport more, using that as an argument for lowering fares to reduce car use and increase public transport uptake.

Demand for investment over punitive charges

Barrett concluded that none of the supportive measures he listed had been implemented, and that relying mainly on a punitive carbon tax left poorer households bearing the burden rather than providing alternatives or investment in retrofitting and public transport.