Hundreds of thousands of new clean energy jobs put at risk by Senate’s dinosaurs 13 August, 2009 | Media Release The rejection by the Senate today of the Government’s emissions trading legislation is a setback for the creation of hundreds of thousands of new clean energy jobs in Australia, says the ACTU. ACTU President Sharan Burrow said the failure to pass the legislation was a serious blow. “Business can’t invest until they have certainty, and jobs can’t flourish until they do. “By refusing to even contemplate negotiating on the Bills, Senators have failed to take an important step forward. “They have also missed an opportunity to amend or strengthen the proposed emissions trading scheme,” Ms Burrow said. “Australia could create up to a million new clean energy jobs in six key industry sectors over the next two decades, but we must get started now. “We are missing out on a quickly growing global market in clean energy technology that will soon be worth up to $6 trillion. “Strong and ambitious action is needed to unlock billions of dollars of investment so Australia can compete in the fast-growing clean energy economy of the 21st century, but dinosaurs in politics and big business are blocking the way. “These new industries will only blossom and we will only cut our emissions by putting the major climate change machinery in place as soon as we can. “The dinosaurs that are blocking progress risk leaving Australia stuck in the past, and it’s time for them to evolve.” Ms Burrow said the Government’s CPRS was a good starting point to achieving real targets for reduced greenhouse emissions. The ACTU is a founding member of the Southern Cross Climate Coalition of social, development, union, environment and research organisations, who have come together to urge action to grow clean energy jobs in Australia. A national campaign in support of clean energy jobs was launched last Sunday. More information www.cleanenergyjobs.com.au ACTU climate change campaign page “Dinosaurs” urged to evolve and support clean energy jobs