Mine workers have called on the industry to immediately end their million dollar scare campaign against the Government’s carbon pricing package now the facts are on the table.
Tony Maher, National President CFMEU said new research shows mine workers don’t believe the industry scare campaign as the majority of members working in coal mining in Queensland and NSW believe there will be no effect on the industry or it will grow, but growth will get slower.
“Now we’ve got the detail it’s time to tell the truth. No more modelling, just the truth. The industry has got no credibility. It’s time to stop playing politics and start planning for our future. Mine workers don’t believe the scare campaign, ” said Mr Maher.
“The $1.3 billion for gassy mines is an effective job protection measure for the small number of gassy mines and the timeline for domestic electricity reform to 2020 provides nine years to plan for future.
“If the industry was serious about protecting jobs, it should be using its billion dollar research fund on mitigation technology for methane emissions and investing money into carbon capture and storage.
“For 100’s of years the unions have fought for jobs in this country. We’ve got the credibility on that. Big business doesn’t”, said Mr Maher.
Coal prices have increased 75% in the last two years, and export earnings from the resources industry are forecast at $130 billion over the next year according to latest figures from Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).
“The coal industry makes $1 million per worker in profit and the extraordinary profit margin above their costs will not be dented by a price on carbon,” said Mr Maher.
No comments:
Post a Comment