AWU backs Gvt's green pathway

Date: 16 December 2008

The Australian Workers' Union has welcomed the release of the White Paper on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme saying it provides certainty to the workers doing the job on the frontline of this important debate.

" The White Paper provides a pathway to ensure Australia will be part of the global greenhouse solution doing our bit for the environment," Paul Howes, AWU National Secretary, said.

Not the first victims of climate change

The AWU represents tens of thousands of workers on the front-line of the climate change debate in cement, aluminium, LNG, mining, oil refineries, plastics, zinc, agriculture and manufacturing.

The AWU has been actively involved in the Climate Change debate to ensure that our members were not the first victims of climate change.

" We are not ashamed of the important work our members do - jobs which have built the wealth of this nation, jobs which have provided the essential infrastructure for this vast continent," Paul Howes said.

Coalition should adopt a bi-partisan stance

Paul Howes said he would be calling on the Coalition to adopt a bi-partisan stance on Climate Change.

" This is not the time for the Coalition to play on the margins of the political game, joining Bob Brown at the altar of The Greens feel-good policies," Paul Howes said.

" The Greens are singing with a small choir - Malcolm Turnbull and his Coalition should not get caught up with their ideological puritanism.

" At a time of global financial crisis the best way to move forward to a lower carbon world is for the major political players in Australia to work towards a bipartisan stance on this important issue," Paul Howes, AWU National Secretary said.

Government and Coalition should not do side deals with Bob Brown

" I am more than happy to sit down with the Coalition spokespeople on the environment and the economy to see if we can work towards adopting this bipartisan position to help  Australia.

" I will definitely call on Mr Rudd and Senator Wong to avoid doing side deals with Bob Brown to get their important legislation through Parliament."

Threats to good Australian jobs because of global financial crisis

Speaking to members of the Canberra Press Gallery Paul Howes said the Australian Workers Union believes the release of yesterday's White Paper was an important statement that this Government wants to maintain good Australian jobs.

" Our country is facing deep threats to jobs because of the global financial crisis.

" The Rudd Government has quite rightly taken the economic crisis into consideration in designing this stage of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme," Paul Howes said.

Govt pointing the way to important first steps to low pollution economy

" The future of these working people depends on the design and implementation of a fair and balanced emissions trading scheme in Australia.

" We believe that the Prime Minister, Mr Rudd, and his Climate Change Minister, Senator Wong, are pointing the way to a successful, important, first step to a low pollution economy," Paul Howes said.

Push for global leadership, global agreements

The AWU believes the Rudd Government must continue to be an international leader pushing for global agreements as well as global sectoral industry agreements.

" It is on the global stage, with these types of agreements, where the international community can really step up the fight on climate change."

For further information

Contact:	Paul Howes, National Secretary
Union:	AWU
WWW:	http://www.awu.net.au/

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