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Federal budget backs coal industry, kills off Hunter
Wednesday 13 May 2009
Greens MP and Hunter spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has said that the Rudd government budget support for the coal industry robs the Hunter of jobs growth transition programs in clean renewable energy technology.
"Up to 10,000 clean green jobs are on hold because the Labor federal
government continues to subsidise the coal industry," said Ms Rhiannon.
“With $2.4 billion allocated in this budget for carbon capture and
storage Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is sending a clear message to the coal
industry that it is business as usual and transition programs are off
the agenda.
“It is expected that the bulk of that money will be spent in the
Hunter. This is bad news for locals particularly as the recession bites
and unemployment increases.
“If that $2.4 billion had been put into renewable energy transition
programs it would have provided a major jobs boost to the Hunter and
surrounding regions and helped rein in greenhouse gas emissions.
"Spending on the Hunter Valley Coal Chain almost equals the entire $1.5
billion Solar Flagship program spending over six years.
“The federal government has missed an opportunity with this year’s
budget to get behind the work of Newcastle Professor Bill Mitchell who
has identified the massive jobs growth that a renewable energy economy
would bring.
“Professor Mitchell has found that a shift from coal-fired energy to
renewables in the Hunter and Wyong region would create between 7,500 and
14,300 new jobs with a net gain of between 3,900 and 10,700 jobs.
“The coal industry is no longer providing jobs growth to the Hunter
because of the high levels of automation. About 1,300 jobs would be lost
in phasing out coal fired power in the Hunter Wyong region.
“These renewable energy jobs would be highly attractive to workers in
the coal industry as they are well paid and involve a variety of skills
in manufacturing, installation and maintenance of renewable energy and
energy efficiency technologies.
“Carbon capture and storage is nothing more than a ploy to extend the
life of the coal industry. This federal budget should have provided
funding to ensure the Hunter become an innovative renewable energy hub,”
Ms Rhiannon said.
For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568
Professor Bill Mitchell’s work detailed in report commission for
Greenpeace
http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/australia/resources/reports/climate-change/just-transition-report.pdf
