The AMWU is concerned that the axing of several innovation and environmental industry programs will affect tens of thousands of workers and the small and medium enterprises who employ them.
 
Tony Abbott yesterday announced a Coalition Government would cut:
 
·    Enterprise Connect
·    Retooling for Climate Change
·    the Green Building Fund.

AMWU National Secretary, Dave Oliver said that over the past three years, business, government and unions had worked together to improve Australia’s manufacturing industry and that the Coalition’s announcement showed they had learned nothing from their last period in office when over 100 000 Australian manufacturing jobs were lost overseas.
 
“Enterprise Connect has been crucial in helping up top 3000 small and medium manufacturing businesses improve their standards, increase productivity and compete internationally.
 
“A cut to this program will hurt small business and it will cost jobs.
 
“Cuts to the climate change retooling and green-building programs demonstrate that Tony Abbott is not even serious about his so-called ‘practical approach’ to dealing with climate change.
 
“These programs assist small businesses to improve their energy efficiency, which helps them to reduce costs as well as reduce their carbon footprint.
 
“Nothing could be more practical, and yet Tony Abbott and the Coalition are walking away from a program that has already assisted hundreds of businesses.