26-March-2009
Portfolio Media Releases, Workplace Relations, Emissions Trading Scheme
Major industries in Geelong and thousands of jobs will be at risk if the Rudd Government’s Emissions Trading Scheme is introduced as planned.
The Federal Opposition Spokesman on Emissions Trading, the Hon. Andrew Robb AO MP, and Victorian Senator, and Shadow Special Minister of State, Michael Ronaldson, made the comments after visiting the Blue Circle Cement Plant in Geelong.
“The Geelong region has already suffered due to a number of factory closures and job losses and further thousands of local jobs will be at risk if Mr Rudd’s emissions trading scheme is introduced,” said the Coalition’s spokesman on Emissions Trading Design, the Hon. Andrew Robb AO MP.
This outcome has been starkly confirmed by the disclosure today in “The Australian” newspaper of secret government research which shows that key regional centres, like Geelong, will shrink by more than 20 per cent under the Rudd Government’s emissions trading scheme.
“In the Geelong region, Blue Circle Southern Cement at Waurn Ponds is one of the remaining major employers. But Mr Rudd’s emissions trading scheme will see Geelong’s major industries and companies – including cement, oil refining, Alcoa, Ford - all fighting to stay competitive with countries that haven’t introduced a carbon tax.
“The Government’s emissions trading scheme is deeply flawed – if implemented it would cost tens of thousands of jobs, kill investment and not see any appreciable reduction in CO2 emissions.”
Senator Ronaldson said he was also concerned about the loss of jobs in regional areas and the impact of the government’s proposed emissions trading scheme.
“Geelong has the largest industry carbon footprint in regional Australia and will receive a disproportionate impact if Mr Rudd’s scheme is passed,” said Senator Ronaldson.
“Geelong is one of the regions in Australia most exposed to an emissions trading scheme and for this reason it is critical to get any emissions trading scheme right or thousands of jobs in Geelong will be threatened.
“The scheme that the government has put forward is so badly designed that no one outside of the Government supports it.”
Shadow Ministers Andrew Robb & Senator Michael Ronaldson joined representatives from the Cement Industry Federation on a tour of Blue Circle to examine the impact that Mr Rudd’s emissions trading scheme will have on the plant.
Blue Circle Southern Cement at Waurn Ponds is the only remaining cement factory in Victoria, employing 145 people in Geelong and 30 more state wide.
Media Contact:
Andrew Robb’s office (Stuart Eaton) - 0433 298 620