The miners' union has hit out at its own industry, calling on the Federal Government to deny coal-fired electricity plants "palliative care" in the form of compensation as it tackles climate change.
Responding to the Government's emissions trading blueprint, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union's mining and energy division said there was no evidence that giving energy suppliers compensation would encourage them to cut greenhouse pollution.
If compensation was offered, the union said, it should be conditional on the coal industry investing in clean-energy technology, including capturing carbon dioxide as it was emitted and burying it.
"The CFMEU is not interested in palliative care options for the industries our members work in," the union said in a submission to the Government.
"The research we have seen to date generally does not suggest that such harsh options are either necessary or effective in mitigating global warming."
Describing emissions trading as "the greatest social and economic restructuring program ever attempted", the CFMEU backs Government adviser Ross Garnaut, saying industries are not usually compensated for losses due to increased environmental or health regulation.
The submission comes as the Government faces intense pressure from big business to revise its emissions trading plan to include more compensation.
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