16-March-2009
Portfolio Media Releases, Workplace Relations, Emissions Trading Scheme
The Prime Minister has demonstrated the complexity of the government’s emissions trading scheme by getting a major detail incorrect in question time today.
“In question time today the Prime Minister was asked about concerns raised by Xstrata that the government’s emissions trading scheme will lead to the loss of 1,000 existing jobs and 4,000 future jobs and the loss of up to $7 billion in future investment,” said the Shadow Minister for Emissions Trading Design, the Hon. Andrew Robb AO MP.
“The Prime Minister showed that he didn’t even know what was in his own scheme when he said that Xstrata would receive protection as an energy intensive trade exposed industry.
“However, coal has been specifically excluded from receiving assistance as a trade exposed industry under the government’s scheme even though about eighty per cent of Australia's black coal is exported and is competing on the world market with countries such as South Africa, Indonesia, Mongolia, Mozambique and Columbia, who are unlikely to take on emissions targets.”
“This will add a cost to the Australian coal industry which is not borne by our competitors. This means that we become a less attractive place to mine coal and that means fewer jobs in coal mining in Australia,” Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources Ian Macfarlane said.
“It will also fail to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions as the customers who need coal will simply purchase it from other countries with less environmentally friendly practices.
“Mr Rudd’s emissions trading scheme will cost jobs, kill investment and fail to achieve little if any reduction in global emissions.”
Media Contacts:
Stuart Eaton (Mr Robb’s office) - 0433 298 620
Kylie Barron (Mr Macfarlane’s office) - 0413 229 957