22-May-2009
Portfolio Media Releases, Workplace Relations, Emissions Trading Scheme
The devastating impact of the Rudd Government’s flawed Emissions Trading Scheme has been laid bare with the release of new modelling that shows it will cost 23,500 mining jobs by 2020.
The report prepared for the Minerals Council of Australia reflects the findings released earlier this month by the coal industry showing 10,000 jobs would be lost and 16 coal mines in NSW and Queensland would be closed in the first 10 years of the Rudd Government’s ETS.
“How far is Mr Rudd prepared to go in his stubborn pursuit of his flawed Emissions Trading Scheme,” Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources Ian Macfarlane said.
“Front line industries are making it blatantly clear that Mr Rudd’s ETS will cut a swathe through the resources sector.
“This is the same sector that has already shed more than 12,000 jobs due to the economic downturn, yet Mr Rudd seems hell bent on driving it into the ground by pushing through his flawed legislation for the ETS despite the fact the Government has not done rigorous modelling on the full impact of its approach.
“By recklessly rushing ahead Mr Rudd is signing off on further job losses and a loss of investment in resources.
“Is Mr Rudd prepared to meet with the thousands of workers in the mining sector and their families to explain to what end he is ruthlessly sacrificing their jobs?”
“The Rudd Government’s proposal is a source of massive uncertainty and risk. When people are worried about their jobs in the current economic climate the last thing the Government should be doing is making things worse with a pig-headed insistence on a flawed scheme,” said the Opposition Spokesman on Emissions Trading Design, the Hon. Andrew Robb AO MP.
“The Minerals Council's research is just the latest in a series of revelations that show that tens of thousands of jobs will be lost with no environmental benefit if the flawed scheme is forced through. Penny Wong cannot dismiss the loss of over 60,000 jobs.
“The Government should be conducting new modelling and analysis of the effects of this policy on jobs, regions and the transition period and what effect the global financial crisis has had on the Government’s assumptions. The Government has done none of this work,” said Andrew Robb.
“It would be irresponsible to rush this deeply flawed scheme through Parliament by the end of June. We can have the debate after the Copenhagen meeting at the end of the year, with all the information on the table, without affecting Mr Rudd’s new start date.
“Penny Wong says her scheme provides certainty. The only certainty it provides is the certainty of job losses.
“As I have been saying, and it has been further confirmed today, the Government’s emissions trading policy will cost jobs, kill investment and deliver little, if any, reduction in CO2 emissions,” Mr Robb said.
Media contacts:
Mr Macfarlane’s office – Kylie Barron – 0413 229 957
Mr Robb’s office – Stuart Eaton – 0433 298 620