Coal job scare scam

CFMEU warns: Coal job scare scam
Date: 30 September 2009

General President Tony Maher has issued an alert to all members of our Union as the mining companies embark on a jobs scare campaign throughout regional communities claiming that many thousands will be lost if coal does not get huge compensation for the emissions trading scheme proposed by the Rudd Government.

"It's a scam and a con", he warned. "A grubby grab to rip-off billions from the taxpayers. And mineworkers should have nothing to do with it". Tony Maher said that jobs would continue to grow in the coal industry with billions of dollars invested in new mines and infrastructure under construction right now. The Government minerals forecasting arm ABARE has listed $10 billion worth of coal projects that are at an advanced stage. And it has listed a staggering 59 coal projects worth almost $40 billion that are also on the drawing board.

Tony Maher pointed out that coal profits are at record levels. "BHP Billiton recently recorded $5.2 billion in profit on its Australian coal operations and Xstrata recorded US$4.5 billion in profit from Australian coal in 2008.

"In this context, the call for more compensation in the form of free permits for coal companies should be treated with the contempt it deserves. Companies making billions in profits, and falling over themselves to invest in new coal operations, should be the last businesses getting handouts from the Australian taxpayer", he said.

For further information

Contact: Tony Maher
Union: CFMEU Mining and Energy Division
WWW: http://www.cfmeu.com.au/