POPULAR WORDS

Federal Transport Minister John Anderson is challenging Labor to come clean on its fuel taxation policies, following the release of the terms of reference for the government's fuel inquiry. "The big question now is what would a future Labor government do?" he asks. "(Shadow Transport Minister) Martin Ferguson has left wide open the threat of removing or reducing fuel rebates to primary producers. "Labor must come clean now on its plans for fuel. Otherwise we can safely assume that under a Beazley administration, bowser prices will go up on the back of higher fuel taxes and primary producers will be slugged." Anderson says the fuel tax inquiry will not see a reduction in the existing benefits of diesel-fuel rebates, or see long-term real increases in the effective level of diesel or petrol taxes paid by business or private consumers. "The National Party in Coalition has always strongly supported lower transport taxes," Anderson says. "The interests of rural, regional and remote Australians will be preserved. "The Liberal-National government fully appreciates the pain of high fuel prices, both on the competitiveness of our industries and on the standard of living of all Australians, but particularly for people living in country areas who can be vulnerable to high transport costs. "We are not prepared to undo the gains we have made. "The transport sector is a winner, because the terms of reference maintain the government's commitment that the proposed Energy Grants Scheme will retain benefits equivalent to those available under the Diesel and Alternative Fuel Grants Scheme and the Diesel Fuel Rebate Scheme." Anderson says the structure of fuel taxation has evolved over many years to pursue a range of economic, revenue-raising and environmental objectives. He adds that the fuel tax inquiry provides an opportunity to assess whether the current structure best suits Australia's needs into the future.