Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey, Senator Marise Payne and federal Liberal candidate for Parramatta Martin Zaiter, visited Parramatta Leagues Club today to discuss the impact of the carbon tax, including possible job cuts as a result of the utility price increases the tax will cause.

Mr Hockey, who met with Parramatta Leagues Club Group CEO Bob Bentley and senior management, said the club is a prime example of the confusion and uncertainty that the tax is causing in the community.

“Parramatta Leagues Club still hasn’t been informed by its electricity supplier how much electricity bills are going to increase – but they know they are going to increase and they know they will have to meet that cost,” Mr Hockey said.

“This is a business that has an electricity bill of between $750,000 and $900,000 a year and the challenge for them is to meet that cost head-on.

“Here is a club that doesn’t get a dollar of compensation from Julia Gillard; they have to absorb the full costs of the carbon tax.  

“This is a tax based on a lie and an Abbott-Coalition Government would as its number one priority introduce legislation to abolish the carbon tax.”

Senator Payne said Parramatta Leagues Club, like many clubs in Western Sydney, was the lifeblood of its community and a key supporter of local sporting teams.

“Parramatta Leagues Club is one of the driving forces behind the Parramatta Eels National Rugby League Club and a significant employer of Western Sydney residents, with 181 workers,” Senator Payne said.

“However, they are an example of a business that loses out when the Government picks and chooses who to compensate for the effects of the carbon tax.

“Some of these jobs are at risk and the club is also in the invidious position of not being able to inform the community of price rises, lest they be attacked by the ACCC or one Labor’s other various regulators set up to enforce the myriad rules and regulations of the carbon tax.

“This tax will hurt Western Sydney and must be repealed as a matter of urgency.”