Garnaut attacks job security
Date: 20 December 2008
Professor Garnaut fails to understand the very real pressures on working families in the current economic climate, AWU National Secretary, Paul Howes, said today .
 Dealing with twin crises
" The Rudd Government is trying to deliver the right balance. The Government is trying to deal with twin crises at one time - Climate Change and the Economy," Paul Howes, AWU National Secretary, said.
" It is economists and bankers - like the Professor - who have put us in the dire economic straits we currently face, in Australia and across the globe.
AWU members won't be told only they have to swallow worst medicine
" To fix these twin problems Professor Garnaut's prescription seems to be working people must swallow the worst of the economic and environmental medicine . My members won't allow themselves to be used that way; they will fight for the job security which as Australians is their right ," Paul Howes said.
" Despite the rhetoric we hear from the greens and their allies, Australia really is leading the world when it comes to implementing the ETS.
Support for developing green low carbon technologies
" Jobs which stay on shore, because of subsidies provided in the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme White Paper, will provide an important contribution to our economy.
" And the scheme will also help the transition to low carbon technologies.
" It can provide the basis to ensure Australia becomes the leading country developing green technologies for big emissions emitting corporations across the globe.
Can't shutdown the economy for utopian green visions
" It is not easy to get the balance right - but the White Paper looks for ways to keep jobs in Australia while backing the big exposed companies as they transition to low carbon technologies.
" We can't shutdown the economy by adopting utopian visions of a green world. Nor can we ignore the real challenges of environmental degradation by just focusing just on dollars.
" Like a US President past I think I might buy a plaque to put on my desk - and give copies to the PM and his Climate Change Minister - to remind us every day ' It's the Economy, it's the Environment: Stupid'.
Need to develop consensus not divisive community debate
" Both are important - one can't happen without the other.
" My union has been active in this debate to save good regional Australian jobs. We need to work towards a decent consensus.
" A divisive community debate will simply undermine Australia's local and international efforts on Climate Change.
Mystified by Garnaut outburst
" I am truly mystified by the Professor's outburst at the Government's White Paper," Paul Howes said.
" As far as targets are concerned, at the commencement of the ETS the Government has done as the Professor recommended.
" The outcome at Copenhagen will be critical to the ability to raise this level of ambition beyond 5 per cent.
" And between the commencement of the ETS and the conclusion of the Kyoto agreement in 2012, the Australian people will have considered all of this at a federal election. "
For further information
|
