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Don't let companies avoid green regsDate: 30 September 2008
The Australian Workers' Union believes the responsible thing to do for our environment is to establish a carbon reduction scheme which does not force offshore our emissions-intensive trade-exposed industries. That is the core of the submission put forward by Australia's biggest blue-collar union in its submission to the Green Paper which is released today. Working families should not be asked to pay the heaviest prices" Today it is all too obvious that unregulated, laissez-faire economic values have caused chaos and havoc on Wall St - and working Americans, as well as working Australians, will probably have to pay the heaviest price," Paul Howes, AWU National Secretary said." That's why working Australians, as well as our planet, should now not be asked to pay another heavy price if key industries are allowed to escape our environmental oversight - and set up shop elsewhere." " The planet cannot afford - and our economy cannot afford - these key industries moving offshore to countries like India, Brazil and China which take a laissez-faire approach to environmental regulation." Rudd Government playing fair, delivering balanced carbon pollution reduction schemePaul Howes said Australia is lucky to have Prime Minister Rudd and Climate Change Minister Wong at this crucial time in our history." Australian working people voted out the last Government because they wanted fairness brought back into their lives . I believe this Government is prepared to play fair with all sections of the community, and deliver a balanced, nuanced carbon pollution reduction scheme. " Historically Australians have always turned to Labor at times of crisis to deliver a fair result for all our people - not just the corporate mates who were so heavily favoured by the last Government," Paul Howes said. Not going to be easy with such a complex problem" It is not going to be easy with such a complex problem . But I fully trust this Government to give all sides a fair hearing in this community debate - and deliver the great Aussie value of a Fair Go."Governments, unions and industry must work together to get the emissions trading scheme right for Australian industry, exports, investment and jobs, the AWU's 41-page submission (PDF Document) has argued in response to the Federal Government's Green Paper. Praise for role in pushing a Global Emissions Trading SchemeThe AWU submission praises the Federal Government's role in pushing for a transition to a global emissions trading scheme." Prime Minister Rudd has shown he is prepared to push new initiatives to bring along global partners for this important project for our planet," Paul Howes said. The AWU also argues strongly for the need for a range of essential infrastructure investment.
Our industries can thriver under future global ETS" Progress in this direction will free our industries of a range of carbon constraints and allow them to thrive under a future global ETS framework." Such progress would be the focus of international attention and would serve to ensure these essential industries undertake production in Australia more efficiently and with the least environmental cost than in any other location in the world." AWU members on the front line - we don't want to suffer from laissez-faire environmental capitalismThe AWU leader said the union will continue to be active in the carbon reduction debate because so many of our members work in affected industries." AWU members are on the front line of this debate because they are employed in key resource and manufacturing industries . " The union wants to ensure that they do not suffer the consequences of laissez faire environmental capitalism in other parts of the world," Paul Howes said. " That is why we have recommended a carbon insurance scheme for our workers in the transition to a global ETS, promoting sustainable jobs. "
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