A new national report shows if governments act now to shift Australia from a pollution dependent economy to a cleaner economy it will create 3.7 million new jobs across the country by 2030.
Creating Jobs – Cutting Pollution: the roadmap for a cleaner, stronger economy, released today by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), is based on the most extensive economic modelling to date of costs and benefits across all Australian regions of taking strong action to cut greenhouse pollution by 25 per cent.
The report shows households will be 10 per cent better off by 2030 with strong policies (a price on pollution plus measures including energy efficiency, renewable energy investment and cleaner transport) but our economy and living standards will suffer if government action is weak.
ACTU President Sharan Burrow said the extra jobs that would be created with strong action were not just ‘green collar’ jobs, but new jobs in traditional industries such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing and the services sector.
“This report shows regional areas, even those which produce coal and generate electricity, will have more jobs if we take strong action to cut pollution, but only if we act now,” Ms Burrow said.
Among the states Queensland leads the way with 45 per cent jobs growth, followed by Victoria (44 per cent), WA (34 per cent), NSW (28 per cent), Tasmania (25 per cent) and South Australia (20 per cent).
“Australia’s government and business leaders face a simple choice: invest and innovate now to secure our long-term future or pay the price in extra economic costs, job losses and an increasingly damaged environment if we don’t act.”
ACF executive director Don Henry said government policies were holding back Australia’s transition to a cleaner economy.
“In this election year Australians want our leaders to show they have got a serious plan to shift to us a cleaner economy with new industries and better jobs.”
Media contacts
Josh Meadows, ACF, 0439 342 992
Giulia Baggio, ACTU, 0409 141 038