On ABC Mackay radio this morning, Queensland National's Senator Ron Boswell again showed he favoured coal mining jobs over those of the farmers he claims to represent.
"The current drought is a symptom of climate change which is driven by burning coal. Every tonne of coal we export makes it harder for farmers to earn a living," said Greens lead Senate candidate for Queensland, Larissa Waters.
"Continuing to burn coal at current rates will also wipe out 63,000 jobs based around the Great Barrier Reef, which scientists warn will be bleached within 20 years.
"When Senator Boswell supports the rich coal mining companies he needs to think about all those farmers and tourism workers who will be put out of a job to protect mining profits.
"The Greens will meet the challenge of climate change but are not interested in throwing coal miners out of work while doing so.
"Our policy is to provide just transitions funding to coal communities and workers, including retraining in sustainable industries with a long-term future, like renewable energy," Ms Waters said.
"The Greens have called for a plan within three years, to manage the transition away from polluting coal to clean, renewable energy, which can provide long-term jobs for hundreds of thousands of Australian workers.
This transition might take decades, but we must start planning for it now, to minimise the disruption to coal communities when world demand for coal drops as more countries act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"Senator Boswell’s comment this morning that The Greens 'are not practical, don’t care and would rather see people on the dole' in fact describes his own position on climate change.
It is Senator Boswell’s support for coal mining, burning and export for the next 300 years that is impractical, careless and will put farmers and tourism workers on the dole.
"Even the coal mining union (CFMEU) is calling for greenhouse gas reduction targets. Yet still the federal government does nothing, and still the
'opposition' refuses to set a 2020 target or divert the $9 billion of subsidies going to the fossil fuel sector at the expense of clean renewables.
"This is why Queenslanders should ensure they elect a Green for the sixth Senate seat in Queensland rather than a National like Ron Boswell who would keep Mr Howard in majority control of the Senate.
"Even if Mr Rudd is the next Prime Minister, with a Coalition controlled
Senate we will be stuck with WorkChoices, inaction on climate change, and
continuing attacks on the civil liberties of our citizens."
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