Employment is said to get a leg up under carbon pricing according to new research, with a forecast of strong jobs growth for the Mid-North Coast in a low-pollution economy.
But not everyone is convinced.
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) have identified significant employment benefits for our region if the Clean Energy Legislative Package to price carbon pollution is adopted by the Federal Parliament.
However, Senator Barnaby Joyce, Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Water, Leader of the Nationals in the Senate, NLP Senator for Queensland, is among a strong and vocal crowd who beg to differ.
“The carbon tax will push up the price of everything. It’s designed to make some jobs and some businesses unproductive,” he said.
Months of negotiations between members of the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee came to an end on July 20 when the Clean Energy Future Package was revealed and now the analysis is on the table.
Independent MP for Lyne Rob Oakeshott said, nationally, we know from Treasury modelling that 1.6 million jobs will be created between now and 2020 regardless of whether or not we introduce a carbon price.“The data from the ACF-ACTU report also shows that the estimated 114,000 jobs we currently have on the Mid-North Coast will grow by around 20 per cent by 2030 if we move now to price carbon and invest in renewable energy,” he said.
“Importantly, we are not just talking about growth in so-called green jobs, but also industries including agriculture, manufacturing and the services sector,” Mr Oakeshott said.
However Mr Joyce is banging on a very different drum.
“Australia has a choice. We can have cheap power and high wages, or dear power and cheap wages. There is a third choice – no jobs,” he said.
“I note that the ACTU has not published any information on what happens to income levels in
their report.
“It begs belief that a union claiming to represent workers doesn’t seem to care about what happens to wage levels.
“It’s not hard to work out why they’re being shifty.
“Other modelling by Access Economics shows that the Mid-North Coast could lose between 500 and 5500 jobs under a carbon pricing system depending on what other countries do.
“You don’t create wealth by destroying the productive jobs we already have, especially when a carbon tax in Canberra will have no impact on the temperature of the globe.”
ACF Chief Executive Officer Don Henry and ACTU President Ged Kearney were among members of the Southern Cross Climate Coalition (SCCC) who visited the Mid-North Coast and met with Mr Oakeshott on Friday to discuss the Package outcomes.
Australian Council of Social Service CEO Cassandra Goldie and Climate Institute Deputy CEO Erwin Jackson were also in attendance as part of the SCCC delegation.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you think carbon pricing will benefit our region? Email us at newsdesk@portmacquarieindependent.com.au
Story: Kate Yates
