Pm's Energy Efficiency Task Group Lights The Way For Climate Change Committee

PM's Energy Efficiency Task Group Lights the Way for Climate Change Committee

The encouraging progress made by the Prime Minister's Task Group on Energy
Efficiency augurs well for the Climate Change Committee, CFMEU President Tony
Maher said today.

Mr Maher, the ACTU representative advising the Task Group, said the constructive
collaboration between unions, business, government and environment groups shows
how significant progress can be made in moving Australia to a more energy efficient future.

"To get representatives from the ACTU, big business and .green groups' working
together with the Task Group and finding significant common ground shows how the debate has moved on in Australia," he said.

"This report recommends improving Australia's energy efficiency by 30 per cent, by building a long-term, nationally-integrated strategy. Its central recommendation is to create new efficiency obligations on energy suppliers and incentives for end users

"It shows that a mere 200 businesses account for 30 per cent of our nation's energy use. So specific, targeted improvements can produce huge results."

The ACTU has consistently supported climate change measures, which are developed
through genuine consultation and have job creation at their core.

Mr Maher also noted that as significant as these recommendations are, they need to go hand-in-hand with a carbon price to make a real impact on our emissions profile.

"This report shows that a price on carbon will be necessary as soon as possible, but the good news once again is that there are positive signs developing here too.

"Tony Abbott and his Opposition look increasingly like a shag on a rock."

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Climate Change Minister Greg Combet released the Task Group's report today in Canberra.

Contact:

Tony Maher
0418 286 735

Anil Lambert (EMC)
0416 426 722


SOURCE: CFMEU Mining and Energy Division