Garnaut U-turn a mad lashing out

Date: 24 March 2009

Professor Garnaut seems to have done a complete U-turn on compensation as part of an Australian emissions-trading scheme.

" The Professor's speech to the Greenhouse 2009 conference in Perth yesterday is an example of an ego gone mad," Paul Howes, Australian Workers' Union National Secretary said.

Illogically crying conspiracy

" The Federal Government has adopted a different compensation track from Garnaut's preferred position, so he is wildly, illogically lashing out at opponents, crying conspiracy..

" Professor Garnaut was among the first people in our community debate on responses to the climate change crisis to identify the risk to emissions-intensive, trade-exposed industries in the absence of an international carbon market and to recommend assistance.

Compensation formula to stop job leakage

" He correctly identified the potential for leakage of jobs and industries overseas to countries not committed to a tough regulatory stance on carbon emissions.

" Now - because the government has decided on a different compensation formula - he seems to want to walk away altogether from his own recommendations," Paul Howes said.

Welcomed first comments as a compelling argument

" Our members in emissions-intensive, trade-exposed industries who have good jobs in the front-line resource sector most affected by this debate welcomed Professor Garnaut's original comments.

" We felt his first comments showed the Professor understood the competitive international pressures facing our employers.

" We applauded his compelling arguments when he released his report.

Attacking industrial sites he once agreed needed assistance

" His comments seemed to indicate that he understood our trade exposed industries - such as steel, aluminium, oil and gas and cement - should not be disadvantaged if their international competitors were not on the same playing field.

" But now the Professor is for turning . It is either Garnaut's way or the highway," Paul Howes said.

" He is turning around and bashing the very same industries he had once agreed needed assistance to transition to the new international carbon trading system.

Outside Australian mainstream concerns

" His new stance might make him a hero to certain inner- city Green elements. But criticising industry involvement in the debate only serves to isolate Professor Garnaut further from the Australian mainstream.

" His new stance is an attack on regional Australia. His new stance is a direct attack on hard-working Australians with good nation-building jobs.

At the robust, pointy end of the community debate

" As we near the pointy-end of this debate Professor Garnuat seems to be demanding that the Government not listen to all voices taking part in this important national community discussion.

" It is no wonder the debate is becoming robust; now even normally level-headed academics and bankers, it seems, are prepared to adopt shrill voices to cut through in the debate," Paul Howes said.

Maintain social cohesion and commitment to the climate change road

" The Rudd Government is completely correct in opening the door to all voices, listening to these voices and weighing up their views, against all other views being expressed on the ETS.

" This is a complex economic manouvre the Federal Government is about to undertake - and it comes on top of the global financial crisis.

"Handled poorly it could trigger off not just a jobs tsunami, but widespread social disruption, " Paul Howes warned.

For further information

Contact:	Andrew Casey
Union:	AWU National Communications Co-ordinator
Contact Mobile:	0417 054 n194
WWW:	http://www.awu.net.au/

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