Full page adverts inserted in major newspapers by the Australian Coal Association in recent days are clearly misleading and are aimed to mislead. The claim is made that, as a result of a carbon tax introduced by the Gillard Government, “thousands of Australians will lose their jobs”; and that “it makes no difference to global greenhouse emissions”; and that “for every tonne of coal Australia doesn’t export…., an extra tonne will be produced by another country”. None of these claims can be justified and may well all be completely wrong. The claims are presented as facts. They are not.
More employment may become available from sustainable energy systems. Several other countries are working on cutting emissions already, some for several years. Other countries are also working on reducing their reliance on coal and, if they are not immediately successful, examples to change, like the ones Australia could provide, will influence them. Newspapers are under stress but they should not capitulate to self-seeking nonsense which confuses people.
Klaas Woldring,
Pearl Beach
