Emission Trading Scheme delayed

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the Government's emissions trading scheme is being delayed until 2011.

The Government has also cut the price of carbon from $40 to $10 for the first year of the scheme and has increased the range of its emissions reduction target to up to 25 per cent of 2000 levels by 2020, if an international agreement is made later this year in Denmark to keep global emissions under 450 parts per million (ppm). 

The Southern Cross Climate Coalition a national group that includes the Australian Conservation Foundation, ACTU, the World Wildlife Fund and Australian Council of Social Service has called for unions, environment and social welfare groups to support the scheme.

But it warned extra investment in renewable energy technologies like solar thermal, and extra incentives for retrofitting commercial buildings were important next steps.

ACTU president Sharan Burrow said Australia would be ''behind the eight ball in the global race for climate-friendly jobs and industries'' if the scheme was not supported.

"The reforms announced today will provide the certainty needed for industry to begin investing in renewable energy and solutions to climate change so that Australia can create up to 1 million climate-friendly and green jobs over the next two decades..

 

"This proposal acknowledges the harsh economic realities facing the nation and the necessity to carefully assist exposed industries during the transition so that jobs are protected.

 

"It also establishes a more ambitious longer term target that can be achieved by substantial investment in renewable energy, efficiencies in households, businesses and industries, and new technology such as carbon capture and storage.

 

"It is time for all sections of the community to move forward with real action on climate change. The looming environmental catastrophe from doing nothing is too serious for further squabbling."

 

Unions growing

There is a greater need for working Australians to be members of a union to protect their jobs, wages and conditions in these difficult economic times.

New ABS data released 17 April shows there has been a lift in union membership of more than 56,000 workers and that, excluding casual workers, almost one in four (24%) employees in Australia are members of a union.

The data shows there are more than 1,750,000 workers that are members of a union and that union members earn, on average, $96 a week more than non- members.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said the new data was positive considering most of the Howard Government’s WorkChoices IR laws were still in place when the ABS survey took place.

"This data shows unions are still relevant and strong.

"In these tough economic times it is especially important for workers to be members of a union.

"Unions help protect jobs as well as workers' wages and conditions.

"In the economic downturn, it is all the more important that workers support each other through their unions.

"We are working hard to protect as many jobs as possible and to safeguard the wages, conditions and entitlements of employees affected by the crisis.

"The lift in membership shown in today’s ABS data is welcome considering many union members are excluded from the results because they are deemed to be contractors rather than employees.

The ABS data shows that the average earnings of a union member is $1026 a week, which is $96 a week more than non-union members ($930). (Source: Table 14, p42 ABS 6310.0 Aug 2008)

"Despite the tough economic times, it is a very good time to join a union," said Ms Burrow.

ACTU

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Currawong victory

The proposal for a residential development at Currawong has been refused, the entire site will be State Heritage listed, and any future proposals for the site will go before Pittwater Council.

Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, said she has refused a project application which would have allowed a 25 lot residential subdivision at Currawong Beach, in Sydney’s North.

“I received the best expert advice and detailed comments from the community, I went and saw the site, and based on that I have decided to refuse the application,” Ms Keneally said.

“My decision followed thorough and considered canvassing of the facts and local community opinions,

including more than a year of rigorous assessment and community consultation.

“This was a development proposal for a unique and pristine area which warranted the significant review process it went through.

“The process included an extended period of community and stakeholder consultation, and review by an Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel (IHAP) and a Ministerial Review Panel (MRP).”

see http://www.friendsofcurrawong.com/