Union support for Labor carbon reduction targets

In an unsurprising move, some of Australia’s largest unions have released statements of support for the Labor Party’s commitment to a sharp reduction in carbon emissions, should they succeed in the 2016 federal election.

The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) national secretary, Allen Hicks, said the announcement showed that Labor had a plan and a vision for Australia’s energy future, but warned against workers being left behind in the quest for a zero-carbon Australia by 2050.

“For more than two years now we have watched Australia fall behind the world in renewable energy technology due to lack of leadership in the area at a federal level,” he said.

“Since coming to power after knifing his predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull has done nothing to reverse this alarming slide.

“We do not want to live in a country that doesn’t have a plan for the future.

“Today’s announcement, coupled with the ALP’s policy of 50% renewable energy by 2030, is an ambitious but achievable plan that would see Australia take its rightful spot among the world’s leaders on this issue.”

Hicks said that training and transition plans for energy industry workers must be central to any workable plan.

“There is no sense in abandoning the current workforce, who have years of experience and a wealth of knowledge about how the industry operates. We want to see a comprehensive transition and support plan for these workers so that they can drive Australia’s foray into the renewable energy technologies of the future. In the absence of such a plan, Labor’s proposal is nothing but idle dreaming.”

Meanwhile, the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) has welcomed the announcement and the intent to consult unions, industry and communities on the path to lower emissions. The national secretary, Paul Bastian, has argued that the transition to a low-carbon economy represents an opportunity for Australia to modernise industry, improve efficiency, fuel innovation and grow jobs.

“Australia has the world’s greatest solar, wind and tidal energy reserves and we have been global leaders in renewable technology. It is a disgrace that under this government we have seen an open attack on the clean energy sector rather than an attempt to build new industries, lift existing ones up and create good new jobs,” said Bastian.

According to the AMWU, modelling commissioned by the Climate Institute has shown that strong climate policy can create over 30,000 new jobs by 2030, including over 5000 manufacturing jobs. However, this modelling doesn’t fully account for the impacts of innovation and technological change that real action on climate would bring.

“Under this government, we’ve seen investment in renewables fall by 35% in the last year alone. Renewable investment is now at its lowest level since 2009, during the global financial crisis. The USA now has 724,000 renewable energy jobs, while Australia has lost more than 2000 renewable jobs since the Coalition came to power, with just 12,500 renewable jobs left.

“The simple fact is we need to modernise our industry and lift efficiency, and tackling climate change is a huge potential boost to both. Placing the burden on taxpayers, which is what Direct Action does, rather than incentivising industry, isn’t fair and won’t lead to the innovation and efficiency we need,” said Bastian.

The AMWU looks forward to consulting with Shadow Climate Change Minister Mark Butler on how to ensure the costs of tackling climate change are minimised while the benefits are maximised.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with the ALP on their climate change policy, to ensure it’s efficient, effective and fair and workers aren’t left behind,” Bastian said.

Hicks said that ALP announcements, coupled with the Greens policy announced last week, left the coalition politically isolated.

“Turnbull’s decision to cling to Abbott’s so-called direct action policies is madness,” he said. “They’re throwing taxpayers’ money into the void and getting nothing in return.

“People will vote for the parties that have a plan.”