AWU lobbies Fed Opposition to adopt bi-partisan Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme stance

01 February 2009

The Australian Workers' Union has offered to work with both the Rudd Government and the Turnbull Coalition to find ways to develop early bi-partisan agreement on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

The AWU is calling on the Federal Opposition to establish an early bi-partisan agreement on the White Paper as its main priority for the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme in 2009.

Taking part in Liberal-National Party policy development

The union has accepted an invitation from the Opposition's spokesman for Climate Change and the Environment, Mr Andrew Robb, to make a submission to the Coalition's Pearce Review into the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

" We do not want to see roadblocks to the implementation of the CPRS which  could hurt our members' jobs - that's why we have eagerly taken up an offer to actively take part in what is a Liberal-National Party policy development forum.

Building broadest possible support for a job saving CPRS

" The AWU is proud of being the foundation union for the Australian Labor Party - and we are totally committed to Labor - but our members expect us  to build the broadest possible support for a job-saving Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme,"  Paul Howes , AWU National Secretary, said today.

" I know some people will raise eye-brows; it is an unusual step for us to put forward a submission to this Oppositon policy review committee.

" We want to bring the two major political groupings together on this important issue," Mr Howes said.

AWU leader appears by video-link before Senate Select Committee

Paul Howes is also scheduled to appear tomorrow ( Monday) before the Senate Select Committee on Fuel and Energy, sitting in Canberra.

Mr Howes will appear  by video-link, from the AWU National Conference in Queensland at 1.15pm ( Brisbane time Monday February 2) to speak to the Senators about the AWU's views about the impact of an emissions trading scheme on the fuel and energy industry.

Greens policy would kill industry which pays our bills

“ The AWU has parted company with The Greens and their supporters in the environmental lobby calling for tougher targets and less transitional assistance to EITEs,” Mr Howes said.

“  It is indulgent and counterproductive to expect any government, in any country, but particularly in a country like Australia which is dependent upon energy intensive industries for investment, jobs and exports, to stand by and support policies which will see these activities – which pay our bills – simply cease or relocate offshore.

“ The EU has not; the USA will not, and Australia should not,” Paul Howes said.

“ By setting targets as high as recommended by The Greens, other countries would have incentives to attract our own valuable industries at the expense both of our own economy and the global environment.

Leakage would be a certainty. The White Paper package is pro-environment and pro-business and pro-workers in both the brown and green sectors. It is based on creating a co-operative and consultative rather than punitive, framework. And that is why it has our support.