MUA says protect LNG from ETS

Date: 13 August 2008

The Maritime Union of Australia had the following letter published in today's Australian.

You can add your comments here to support the MUA and Paddy Crumlin

THE Australian is right to highlight concerns about impact of the proposed emissions trading scheme on Australia's emerging LNG industry ("PM told: rethink gas plan", 9/8).

The Maritime Union of Australia is concerned that under the ETS model proposed in the Rudd Governments Carbon Pollution Reduction Green Paper, that Australia's LNG industry will not be eligible for support as an Emissions Intensive Trade Exposed Industry (EITEI)--it will not be eligible for free permits and other support measures.

Unless the LNG industry is among those eligible for support as an EITEI, there is a strong prospect that capital investment in Australian LNG will be diverted to oil and gas projects in other nations--it will result in a capital flight from Australian hydrocarbons projects.

There are two implications if that occurs; the development of Australia's gas industry, which is on the cusp of a $100billion expansion, will be stalled; and artificially impeding production of a clean transition energy source will limit availability to users.

We and key Asian nations will remain dependent on more emissions-intensive energy sources.

The real concern is that a stalling of investment in the LNG industry will have major consequences for employment and jobs in the resources sector.

The Rudd Government needs to identify its preferred option for assisting the LNG industry following the Prime Minister's statement that he does not want the industry threatened by an ETS.

Paddy Crumlin

National secretary, Maritime Union of Australia

Sydney, NSW

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For further information

Contact:	Paddy Crumlin
Phone:	+61 2 9267 9134
Email:	muano@mua.org.au
WWW:	http://mua.org.au/news/

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