Mirabella was speaking on the eve of Australia’s national manufacturing awards program, the Manufacturers’ Monthly Endeavour Awards, which rewarded 13 Australian manufacturing companies for innovation and excellence on Wednesday night in Melbourne.
According to Mirabella, the Labor Government’s carbon tax will stop competitive companies like those rewarded in the Endeavour Awards from progressing.
Slashed funding to commercialisation programs and lowering R&D tax incentives are a ‘nail in the coffin for many Australian businesses,’ Mirabella claims.
‘Ms Gillard and her industry Minister Kim Carr talk up innovation while engaged in decimation,’ a statement from Mirabella’s office reads.
“I congratulate the winners of tonight’s awards. They are among those manufacturers in Australia who have fought to be competitive, often operating on low margins,” said Mirabella.
“Manufacturing innovation should be rewarded not slugged with a carbon tax that will close down much of Australian manufacturing.”
Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott spoke at the Endeavour Awards on Wednesday, calling the carbon tax ‘dumb’ and asking the 300 manufacturers present on the night to help him fight the carbon tax.
Carr claimed the tax will help Australian industry become more sustainable during a DVD address that was played at the ceremony.
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