Carbon price: climate change is union business
That the AEU notes:
- Current policy on climate change, endorsed at the 2009 Branch Conference, which states the AEU's belief that decisive action must be taken to reduce carbon emissions and supports the introduction of a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) as one strategy that has the potential to provide an equitable and cost-effective response to climate change.
- The legitimate role unions have in the climate change debate, as action on carbon pollution will involve major economic restructuring and it is unions who will look after their members and all workers in the move to a low carbon economy.
That the AEU supports the introduction of a price on pollution, which has been proposed by the Gillard government as a first step in moving to the introduction of an emissions trading scheme.
This support is predicated on a commitment from the government to:
- Provide assistance to low and middle income households through compensation
- Protect existing jobs; create new jobs through comprehensive industry policy; and support for the development of skills and training to assist workers in transitioning to a low carbon economy
- Programs which attract investment in clean energy and production; and
- Provide support for emission-intensive and trade-exposed industries.
That the AEU commits to participating in the public debate and campaign to see the introduction of a price on pollution, including providing information to members on the issues, encouraging members to contribute to community debate and to lobby local members of parliament to support the legislation when it is introduced into federal parliament.
Branch Conference
August 2011
Download the text of all 2011 Branch Conference resolutions (PDF)
