Fed: Howard defends petrol excise again = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2001
Fed: Howard defends petrol excise again = 2

Mr Howard said the higher fuel excise was necessary to provide increased funding for roads.

And he criticised Opposition Leader Kim Beazley's intention to introduce in Federal
parliament a private member's bill to scrap fuel excise.

"That's just a stunt," Mr Howard said.

"Mr Beazley will be credible on this issue if he stands up in the parliament next week
and says: `If I become Prime Minister after the next election I will reduce petrol excise
by 1.7 cents per litre.'"

Mr Howard also took a swipe at Victoria's Bracks Labor government, saying it was undermining
national industrial relations reform.

"I am concerned as Prime Minister that there does appear to be an industrial relations
regression going on in Victoria, with the new (Bracks) government," Mr Howard said.

"And I think that's disturbing. I think many of the industrial relations reforms that
were undertaken by the former Victorian (Kennett) government are under threat.

"That's disturbing to me. From a Victorian perspective, I think it will be particularly
disturbing to a lot of people in small business."

Mr Howard later visited the Plenty Valley FM radio station and was met by a small number
of anti-logging protesters, some of whom were restrained by police from approaching the
Prime Minister's car.

As Mr Howard left the station, one masked protester took a handful of woodchips from
his pocket and threw them in the direction of his vehicle.

AAP tsc/sp/jlw/ns/br

KEYWORD: PETROL HOWARD 2 MELBOURNE (REOPENS)

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