Keep energy and resource jobs in Australia to cut global greenhouse: AWU

Up to 15,000 Australian jobs could be under threat, Australia’s biggest energy and resource union, the AWU warned today.

Releasing the AWU/Per Capita report at Point Henry, Geelong

Australian Workers' Union (AWU) National Secretary, Paul Howes, said that industry, government and unions need to look at ways we can 'green' our energy-intensive and export-oriented industries - so that we can keep good jobs here and not go to overseas markets, like China or Brazil or India.

AWU wants Regional Australia in Climate Change debate

" Professor Garnaut undertook a national tour of Town Hall meetings to speak directly to the public after he released his Draft Report.

" That was good. But all the meetings were in capital cities. Our economy today depends on the industries and jobs in Regional Australia - where the energy and resources sector is based.

" The people in Regional Australia will suffer the hardest hit - especially if we are wrong-footed on climate change.

The AWU is not prepared to abandon the regions. These jobs in Regional Australia are integral to the future well-being of our nation."

• Be part of the AWU Climate Change campaign - standing up for resource and energy industry workers; their jobs and their families - join the AWU today

How AWU jobs can help in the battle against greenhouse gases

The Per Capita report, released today suggests ways that we can keep these good jobs here - and help these energy-intensive industries become more environmentally friendly.

" We know by keeping good jobs in industries like these smelters and refineries here in Australia we are actually helping in the battle against greenhouse gases," AWU National Secretary, Paul Howes, said.

"The Federal Government must help these industries to clean up their act, and bring in new technologies such as carbon capture and storage . If we do that then decent, well-paid, secure jobs will not be lost to Australia - and taken off-shore to countries like China, India and Brazil whose pollution levels are far-far higher than we have here in Australia.

" For every tonne of alumina made here in Australia we have 50 per cent less emissions than the same tonne made in China. So if this industry shifts to China because of Climate Change imposts we only worsen global pollution," Mr Howes said.

Report shows we can generate significant green job opportunities by keeping energy and resource industry alive

• Government to consider providing partial exemption for five years, or a temporary exclusion from ETS, or a discount on carbon market price.

• Aluminium industry aggressively investing in developing own carbon-neutral energy resources which would themselves generate significant job opportunities.

• Industry to meet future demand growth through efficiency gains.

• Government offers income tax credits to stimulate job creation.

Read earlier AWU commentary on Climate Change

• Keeping working Australians in the debate about a green future and secure jobs

• Union warns against being wrong-footed on Climate Change

• USA must pressure China to adopt decent global emissions trading standards: AWU

• AWU wants Govt to look at plan to trap CO2 under depleted offshore gas fields

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