Rudd turns coal sods, fails Hunter Valley jobs

CHRISTINE MILNE Australian Senate Australian Greens Deputy Leader

Christine Milne
Australian Senate Australian Greens Deputy Leader

media release
Canberra, Thursday 14 May 2009
Rudd turns coal sods, fails Hunter Valley jobs
The Prime Minister’s skewed priorities were on display this morning as he turned the first sod
on new coal infrastructure in the Hunter Valley, the Australian Greens said today.
Australian Senate Australian Greens Deputy Leader said Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator
Christine Milne.
“With the world inexorably turning away from coal, we risk a jobs crash in coal communities if
we don’t start now with plans to retrain workers for jobs in new sustainable industries seeded in
their regions.
“In the face of the climate and economic crises, cosseting vulnerable industries is extremely
short-sighted. We need to put Australia onto a sustainable footing with the jobs and industries
of the future.
“Mr Rudd should be promising the Hunter Valley community that he will set aside serious
funding from emissions trading revenue to skill people up for jobs in climate protection that will
be seed funded in their communities.”
The Greens have repeatedly called for a skills audit of Australia to find out what skills we have
in people in vulnerable industries and match them up with the skills we need for jobs in climate
protection.
A true Just Transitions package would establish a well-funded partnership between Federal
and local governments, unions, community groups and both clean and dirty industries. It would
not see a wealth transfer to big coal and its shareholders.
The structural adjustment package needs to be complemented with research, development
and commercialisation investment for new technologies together with an industry policy which
matches the jobs and manufacturing needs of the new economy with the existing skill bases in
communities impacted by the transition.
“If we are to prevent climate catastrophe we need all of us to roll up our sleeves and get
working. We’ll need plumbers, electricians, metalworkers and skilled workers of all stripes,”
Senator Milne said.
“Instead of a risky jobs strategy that relies on coal, we could be creating hundreds of
thousands of safe, high quality jobs in protecting the climate. It’s well past time that we got
started.”