The AMWU says the Federal Government must match its move to set a price on carbon pollution with investment in clean technology to create jobs.

“A price on carbon pollution is the right step and will provide certainty for workers in industries that can now plan for a low-pollution future,” said AMWU National Secretary, Dave Oliver.
 
“The Prime Minister and Climate Change Minister Greg Combet have described this reform as being as significant as the moves to float the dollar and open the economy under Hawke and Keating.
 
“That comparison is accurate. That’s why Australia’s one million manufacturing workers will now look to the Federal Government for job and industry plans that equal the scale of the Button Industry plans of the 1980s.”
 
Mr Oliver said the Australia’s future economic prosperity was dependent on a diverse economic base with manufacturing at its core.
 
“The future of manufacturing is in clean energy and low-carbon technology industries including the automotive industry and many other high-tech sectors.”
 
A Climate Institute report released on Monday showing the country’s clean energy sector has the potential to create 31 000 new jobs in regional Australia by 2030.
 
“The report paints a very positive outlook for how and where jobs would be created. It shows thousands of jobs are possible in construction, manufacturing and ongoing operations of clean energy producers,” Mr Oliver said.
 
The report, based on independent research conducted by Australia’s leading energy consultants SKM-MMA and industry experts at Ernst and Young, showed 43 per cent of Australia’s electricity could be produced from clean energy.
 
It nominated energy resources such as geothermal, large scale solar, bio-energy, hydro, wind and natural gas as potential sources.
 
“Jobs can only be created with strong and decisive action by government. Prices on carbon pollution and plans for manufacturing to become cleaner are essential.

“The AMWU looks forward to working with the government to ensure we remain a country that faces climate change head on and continues to make the technology of the future.”

Click here to read more about the report.