Media Release
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Scare campaign aimed at Mackay exposed by new TV ad
A new TV campaign begins this evening in Mackay to expose an attempt by one
of the country’s largest polluting industries to mislead working families and
secure greater compensation from the Federal Government under its proposed
emissions trading system.
Australia’s largest independent organisation GetUp has taken aim at the
Australian Coal Association (ACA) in a television advertisement that exposes its
scare campaign about climate change and jobs.
GetUp members have donated tens of thousands of dollars to air the ad on TV
from tonight in Mackay. The GetUp ad can be viewed and downloaded at:
The ACA wants greater compensation from the Federal Government to go to
multinational companies in the coal sector. As a smokescreen, the ACA is
running a scare campaign aimed at regional communities in a bid to pressure the
Federal Government, GetUp Executive Director Simon Sheikh said.
“Australians are not easily misled and they are not supportive of companies
being given a free ride at a time when everyone accepts they have to do their bit
to fight climate change,” Mr Sheikh said.
“The reality is taking strong action on climate change with have real benefits,
creating thousands of new jobs in industries like the renewable energy,
agriculture and tourism sectors.”
Mr Sheikh said the TV ad campaign is aimed at the coal lobby for running a
blatant scare campaign, but also at Liberal Party MPs who will attempt to further
water down an emissions trading scheme in negotiations with the government.
“What Australians are not prepared to accept is big polluters, like the coal
industry, dodging their responsibility in meeting this challenge.”
For more information please call Simon Sheikh on 0416 122 483 or Esther
About GetUp:
GetUp.org.au is Australia’s largest independent political
organisation that brings to together individuals and communities to bring
participation back into our democracy. GetUp has over 280,000 members
nationwide.
NEWS 
