NTEU National Council 2009 Motion

The following motion was passed at the October 2009 NTEU National Council.

National Council calls on the ALP and on opposition parties to support:

  1. Abandonment of the CPRS legislation and development of a national pollution reduction strategy that does not primarily rely on market mechanisms.
  2. A target of a minimum 40 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on 1990 levels by 2020 as a step towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
  3. A planned transition from coal-fired generators to renewable energy sources, including reskilling and good quality alternative employment for affected workers.
  4. An urgent public investment program in public transport, renewable energy and the sustainable retrofitting of the nation’s housing stock.
  5. Legislation that gives effect to the Just Transition recommendations endorsed by the ACTU and the United Nations Environment Programme and ensures the social costs of climate change mitigation and adaptation are not borne disproportionately by households.
  6. Development of a national green employment strategy that meets international best practice standards on decent work and measurably reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
  7. Development of a national strategy that identifies unsustainable industry and consumer demand levels, and addresses their employment implications.
  8. Amendment of the Fair Work Act in line with ALP 2007 policy to facilitate bargaining about environmental claims by industrial parties.

The NTEU will campaign in support of this position within the wider community, the union movement and the ACTU.

National Council encourages Divisions and Branches to actively support rallies and other initiatives from the climate change movement designed to win government action along the lines indicated above.