ID :
212029
Mon, 10/10/2011 - 13:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/212029
The shortlink copeid
Greens hint they'll back steel assistance
SYDNEY (AAP) - Oct 10 - The Greens have given the strongest indication yet they'll back Labor's $300 million steel industry assistance package when the lower house votes on the carbon tax legislation this week.
Greens industry spokesman Adam Bandt says the minor party is still considering its position and will discuss the steel bill on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's vote.
But in a signal the Greens are leaning towards supporting the steel transformation plan (STP), Mr Bandt has adopted Labor's language to attack the opposition leader.
"It's astounding that Tony Abbott's concern for manufacturing has already evaporated," the key crossbench MP told AAP in a statement.
Mr Bandt also said the Greens could be swayed on the plan's merits.
"If the government now wants this bill passed, the Greens will need to be convinced that any multi-million dollar industry package will protect local jobs and improve the environment, not just line the pockets of already wealthy companies," he said.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young delivered a similar message.
"We had doubts about the amount of compensation in that bill," she told reporters in Canberra.
"But the issue goes back to Tony Abbott. If he's serious about supporting the steel industry he will back the bill."
Mr Abbott is refusing to back the STP because he's opposed to the carbon tax.
The Greens have previously argued the steel industry doesn't need special assistance.
The $300 million was originally intended to protect steel workers after the $23-per-tonne carbon tax started in mid-2012.
But when BlueScope announced in August it was shedding 1000 jobs as a result of the high Australian dollar hurting exports, Labor made $100 million from the STP available early.
Climate Change Minister Greg Combet acknowledged on Monday that the extra assistance would help steel makers deal with the higher dollar and input costs as well as the carbon tax.
He's confident of gaining enough crossbench support to get the STP passed along with Labor's 18 carbon tax bills.
"I'm working on that," Mr Combet told reporters in Canberra.
"We expect it to pass."
Mr Combet put pressure on Mr Abbott and the Greens to pass the steel bill by noting they'd indicated concern about the job losses at BlueScope.
"Here's an opportunity to stand up," he said.
"There's no point just running around mouthing these things off and expressing some concern that turns out to be a faux concern."
Mr Combet also dismissed a last minute anti-tax campaign from a new Australian manufacturing industry group headed by former Reserve Bank board member Dick Warburton.
His claim that Australia was acting "ahead of the rest of the world" was wrong, the minister said.
Mr Warburton had previously "worked away in the business community" to oppose the carbon tax "and he's obviously been a close consulter with Tony Abbott".
New modelling suggesting a price on pollution could force the premature closure of nearly 20 per cent of Australia's black coalmines was similarly dismissed.
The coal association's claims were "ludicrous", Mr Combet said.
"The coal industry is growing and it will continue to grow."
Meanwhile, former Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull, who was rolled for supporting an emissions trading scheme, refused to say whether he would participate in Tuesday's lower house debate on the carbon tax legislation.
"You'll see tomorrow," he said when quizzed on the issue.
"(But) I've said for some time that I'll be voting with the coalition."
Mr Abbott said on Monday that Labor's carbon tax, which transforms into an emissions trading scheme in mid-2015, would "put our manufacturing at a permanent competitive disadvantage".
Greens industry spokesman Adam Bandt says the minor party is still considering its position and will discuss the steel bill on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's vote.
But in a signal the Greens are leaning towards supporting the steel transformation plan (STP), Mr Bandt has adopted Labor's language to attack the opposition leader.
"It's astounding that Tony Abbott's concern for manufacturing has already evaporated," the key crossbench MP told AAP in a statement.
Mr Bandt also said the Greens could be swayed on the plan's merits.
"If the government now wants this bill passed, the Greens will need to be convinced that any multi-million dollar industry package will protect local jobs and improve the environment, not just line the pockets of already wealthy companies," he said.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young delivered a similar message.
"We had doubts about the amount of compensation in that bill," she told reporters in Canberra.
"But the issue goes back to Tony Abbott. If he's serious about supporting the steel industry he will back the bill."
Mr Abbott is refusing to back the STP because he's opposed to the carbon tax.
The Greens have previously argued the steel industry doesn't need special assistance.
The $300 million was originally intended to protect steel workers after the $23-per-tonne carbon tax started in mid-2012.
But when BlueScope announced in August it was shedding 1000 jobs as a result of the high Australian dollar hurting exports, Labor made $100 million from the STP available early.
Climate Change Minister Greg Combet acknowledged on Monday that the extra assistance would help steel makers deal with the higher dollar and input costs as well as the carbon tax.
He's confident of gaining enough crossbench support to get the STP passed along with Labor's 18 carbon tax bills.
"I'm working on that," Mr Combet told reporters in Canberra.
"We expect it to pass."
Mr Combet put pressure on Mr Abbott and the Greens to pass the steel bill by noting they'd indicated concern about the job losses at BlueScope.
"Here's an opportunity to stand up," he said.
"There's no point just running around mouthing these things off and expressing some concern that turns out to be a faux concern."
Mr Combet also dismissed a last minute anti-tax campaign from a new Australian manufacturing industry group headed by former Reserve Bank board member Dick Warburton.
His claim that Australia was acting "ahead of the rest of the world" was wrong, the minister said.
Mr Warburton had previously "worked away in the business community" to oppose the carbon tax "and he's obviously been a close consulter with Tony Abbott".
New modelling suggesting a price on pollution could force the premature closure of nearly 20 per cent of Australia's black coalmines was similarly dismissed.
The coal association's claims were "ludicrous", Mr Combet said.
"The coal industry is growing and it will continue to grow."
Meanwhile, former Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull, who was rolled for supporting an emissions trading scheme, refused to say whether he would participate in Tuesday's lower house debate on the carbon tax legislation.
"You'll see tomorrow," he said when quizzed on the issue.
"(But) I've said for some time that I'll be voting with the coalition."
Mr Abbott said on Monday that Labor's carbon tax, which transforms into an emissions trading scheme in mid-2015, would "put our manufacturing at a permanent competitive disadvantage".
