Mayor calls for ETS changes to save jobs

Andrew Mathieson
GEELONG Mayor John Mitchell has joined calls for Federal Government to change its proposed carbon emissions trading scheme amid fears it could cost thousands of jobs in the region.
His call followed a report in the Independent two weeks ago about concerns the scheme could threaten more than 1000 jobs at Alcoa’s Point Henry and Anglesea plants.
Cr Mitchell said discussions with Alcoa pointed concern to “specific implications of the legislation in its current form” on the company’s smelter and rolling plant.
“The City of Greater Geelong, along with other major stakeholders, have supported Alcoa’s position for some adjustment to current legislation to ensure the initiative does not drive manufacturing operations off-shore,” he said.
But Cr Mitchell refused to join a chorus of mayors in other Labor strongholds interstate calling for the Government to go further and suspend its emissions trading scheme amid an uncertain economic climate.
“Not even Alcoa wants that,” Cr Mitchell said.
Mayors from three states in mining hubs Newcastle, Mt Isa and Latrobe, in Tasmania, have demanded the Government scrap its plans in a bid to protect industry jobs in their regions.
The Liberals have said they will refuse to vote in favour of the existing trading scheme proposal, which would begin in 2010.
Cross-bench senators have indicated the government’s legislation is doomed.
Liberal Senator Michael Ronaldson told the Independent a fortnight ago that the fundamentally “flawed” scheme would impact Alcoa’s operations and break an election promise to protect jobs.
This week Mr Ronaldson said the trading scheme would also lead to some of Geelong’s other biggest employers, including Blue Circle Cement, Shell and Ford, “all fighting to stay competitive with countries that haven’t introduced a carbon tax”.
Member for Corio Richard Marles has accused the Liberals’ of using Alcoa to create “political jobs”. However, he has admitted he cannot guarantee that the introduction of the scheme would not cost Geelong jobs.
Cr Mitchell said the City was already on board to make a substantial contribution to address climate change.
“We support the Government’s initiative but the reality is that we’re working with Alcoa and all parties that we can to ensure it doesn’t have an adverse affect on the company,” Cr Mitchell said.
“We’re just asking for a balanced approach about all this – we don’t want anyone’s job jeopardised.”