MEDIA RELEASE
“Every dollar to the coal corporations is a dollar less to the community. Every dollar propping up existing polluters is a dollar less creating jobs in the new zero carbon economy.
“There are plenty of Australians who are appalled by the Rudd Government’s Continue Polluting Regardless Scheme and want to know why the Government will not accept the Greens’ good faith offer to deliver an environmentally and economically effective scheme.”
Greg Combet’s attack comes as the Greens have increased pressure for structural adjustment packages to coal communities. Such a package would establish a well-funded partnership between Federal and local governments, unions, community and industry groups to deliver sustainable jobs and prosperity. It would not see a wealth transfer to big coal.
“The Greens agree with Professor Garnaut that there is no case for compensation to coal generators but there is a very strong case for structural adjustment packages to help coal communities move into a future beyond coal.
MEDIA RELEASE
Combet’s attack shows Greens success
Greg Combet’s deliberate misrepresentation of the Greens’ position this morning shows that the Government is worried by the Greens’ campaign to fix or oppose the emissions trading bill.
Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change, Greg Combet, told ABC2 this morning that the Greens wanted to “remove any assistance for the coal industry whatsoever” when the Greens have consistently called for significant structural adjustment funding for coal communities.
“The Greens agree with Tony Maher that it is jobs that need protecting, not corporate profits,” said Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne.
“The Government is clearly feeling the heat over their failed political fix of the climate crisis.
“The Australian community wants serious action on the climate crisis but the Government they elected to deliver it has instead bent over backwards to give polluters more corporate welfare.
“Every dollar to the coal corporations is a dollar less to the community. Every dollar propping up existing polluters is a dollar less creating jobs in the new zero carbon economy.
“There are plenty of Australians who are appalled by the Rudd Government’s Continue Polluting Regardless Scheme and want to know why the Government will not accept the Greens’ good faith offer to deliver an environmentally and economically effective scheme.”
Greg Combet’s attack comes as the Greens have increased pressure for structural adjustment packages to coal communities. Such a package would establish a well-funded partnership between Federal and local governments, unions, community and industry groups to deliver sustainable jobs and prosperity. It would not see a wealth transfer to big coal.
“The Greens agree with Professor Garnaut that there is no case for compensation to coal generators but there is a very strong case for structural adjustment packages to help coal communities move into a future beyond coal.
“The Government is doing a terrible disservice to coal communities by refusing to acknowledge that their future depends on change.
“Why won’t the Government back Greens’ calls for a skills audit and training packages to prepare workers for jobs in the sunrise industries we would seed in their communities? Why won’t they back our calls for a new industry and manufacturing policy to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs in protecting the climate where they are most needed?
“We risk creating a jobs crash in coal communities if we don’t start now on plans to retrain workers for jobs in new sustainable industries seeded in their regions. Let’s get on with it,” Senator Milne said.
<
Canberra, Friday 15 May 2009
Tim Hollo
Media Adviser
Senator Christine Milne | Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Climate Change Spokesperson
Suite SG-112 Parliament House, Canberra ACT | P: 02 6277 3588 | M: 0437 587 562
http://www.christinemilne.org.au/| www.GreensMPs.org.au
Sign-up to GreensMPs to receive updates and alerts enabling you to take action on important issues
Come and join the conversation at GreensBlog
