The Hastings branch of Climate Change Australia is strongly urging the Abbott government not to repeal the carbon tax.

President Harry Creamer said there is no good reason to drop the tax.

He said the tax has had little impact on the economy but a big impact on Australian emissions, lowering them by almost 8 percent.

Mr Creamer said a price signal on carbon is the only way to achieve an emissions reduction target of more than 5 percent.

“It is now clear that we need a higher target and the direct action plan cannot achieve anything higher,” he said.

‘We can make five percent at little or not cost.

“What we need to do is to raise our ambition and that’s what the current legislation does across the whole of the economy by sending a price signal on carbon.”

Mr Creamer said Australia will lose international credibility if it scraps the tax without showing how it will continue to cut emissions.

He said the tax has lowered Australia’s emissions and reduced coal-fired electricity generation.

Mr Creamer said the current bushfires cannot be directly attributed to climate change but they’re a timely reminder.

“The current bushfires serve to remind us of the link between mega fires and climate change,’ he said.

“Human induced climate change is making these extreme weather events including bushfires worse.

“Quite simply now is not the time to be repealing effective legislation that is working to reduce Australia’s greenhouse emissions.”