The West Australian exclusive

Federal election 2022: Star WA Labor candidate Zaneta Mascarenhas linked to carbon tax

Lanai Scarr The West Australian
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Camera IconZaneta Mascarenhas. Credit: Matt Jelonek/The West Australian

The Labor candidate in the crucial WA seat of Swan has spent years volunteering for a climate change organisation that wants the introduction of a carbon tax.

Zaneta Mascarenhas’ LinkedIn page says she has been a volunteer with the Climate Reality Project since January 2015.

However, extra information that claimed she was “devising a process to develop a WA strategy for the Climate Reality Project” was deleted from her page after becoming a candidate.

On its website, Climate Reality says it is a group of “activists, cultural leaders, organisers, scientists, and storytellers committed to building a sustainable future together”.

On a page titled “What you need to know about carbon pricing”, the group argues for “emissions taxes” and “emissions trading systems”.

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“Carbon pricing might actually be one of the best tools we have to fight climate change, make energy fair, and protect people from Big Polluters,” it says.

Camera IconTania Lawrence, Catherine King & Zaneta Mascarenhas. Credit: Matt Jelonek/The West Australian

“For years, fossil fuel companies and utilities have been dumping carbon pollution into our atmosphere – all while we pay the cost.

“It’s time to make energy fair for everyone. It’s time to fight climate change and make Big Polluters pay for the damage they do.”

Former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd attempted to take on the resources industry with the introduction of a mining tax in 2010. That move fuelled a national campaign by the powerful mining and energy sector, which led to Julia Gillard rolling Mr Rudd for the top job. One of her first roles as Prime Minister was to water down the tax, which became the largely ineffective Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT).

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has sought to wedge Labor’s Anthony Albanese on the issue during recent visits to WA where he has pledged “there will be no mining tax” under his government.

Mining contributes $169.6 billion, or 47 per cent, of WA’s Gross State Product and employs more than 125,700 West Australians.

Ms Mascarenhas, who introduced Labor’s foreign affairs shadow minister Penny Wong at Labor’s launch, is a rising star in Labor who many believe will wrest Swan from the Liberals with sitting member Steve Irons retiring.

The seat is held by the Liberals on a margin of 3.2 per cent.

Asked about her posts and connection to the organisation, Ms Mascarenhas on Tuesday said she had a long connection with the resources sector but that it had to step up to protect our planet.

Camera IconAustralian Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese. Credit: LUKAS COCH/AAPIMAGE

She refused to answer whether she supported a carbon tax and did not deny that she deleted some of her LinkedIn profile.

“I grew up in a mining town, and went on to work as a FIFO engineer on mine sites. My support for the resources industry is unwavering,” she said.

“I’m proud to have worked as an engineer on mine sites and as a climate change specialist working with organisations and resources companies on our transition to net zero and the job opportunities that creates.

“Like many, I greatly value the resources sector but also know that for my kids to have a strong future we need to address climate change - something the world’s biggest resources companies themselves are working to achieve.

“The Liberal Party are the ones who should be ashamed of their record on climate change.”

Labor insiders said she was not ashamed of her work with the Climate Reality Project.

Attorney-General Michaelia Cash said it was “just another example of Labor not being upfront with West Australians”.

“We know that Anthony Albanese says one thing in the East and something else here in the West,” Senator Cash said.

“The WA mining industry’s success has been due to hard work and innovation not due to taxes.

“Only the Coalition can be trusted to keep taxes low. Labor is addicted to spending, which means they will always tax more.”

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