AWU welcomes process for vital Carbon Leakage Review

The Australian Workers’ Union has today welcomed the process announced for the Albanese Government’s Carbon Leakage Review and the appointment of Professor Frank Jotzo to lead it. “This Carbon Leakage Review is one of the most important steps taken by the Albanese Government to act on climate change and support our industries,” said AWU National Secretary Paul Farrow. “We can’t just close factories here and think we’ve saved the world. If we shut down a plant, another one will just pop up overseas. It just doesn’t make sense. “Constantly upping regulation and costs might appeal to some environmental activists, but it hurts workers, wrecks the economy, and does little for climate change. “As the government has rightly pointed out, we need to ensure the carbon reducing policies we enact here are not cancelled out by the supply of carbon-intensive products moving to countries with weaker climate policies. A Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism would send a signal to countries looking to dump products in Australia – either lift your game, or pay the same price that our domestic manufacturers do. “I commend Minister Chris Bowen for this long overdue review and our union looks forward to working constructively with Professor Jotzo and the government.”