Time for a green jobs taskforce

Time for a green jobs taskforce

Unite Tasmania Around a Common Vision and Job Creation Strategy

(By Nick McKim MP - For comment: state parliamentary offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233 8300)

The Tasmanian Greens today called on Premier David Bartlett to create a Green Jobs Taskforce with representatives from the business, academic and community sectors, to advise him on how to maximise opportunities created by the inevitable transition into a low carbon economy that is currently underway at a global level.

Greens Leader and Treasury spokesperson Nick McKim MP said that a 21% increase in the number of unemployed people in Tasmania should set alarm bells ringing, and said that the transition to a Green economy would help place the State’s economy on a ‘recovery ready’ footing.

“We need to position Tasmania in ‘recovery ready’ mode, and acknowledge that job creation opportunities will overwhelmingly be based on the principles of sustainability that will underpin the world’s next economic boom,” Mr McKim said.

“A Green Jobs taskforce would unify Tasmania around a common vision and job creation strategy that could see us becoming a global leader in the transition into the low carbon economy.”

“It is impossible for any government of the day to protect every existing job, but it is the responsibility of government to lead the transition to a Green economy, and move to ensure that Tasmanian workers can be skilled-up in order to make the most of the new industry opportunities.”

“Mr Bartlett has a once in a generation opportunity to position Tasmania as a global leader, but to date all we’re getting is more of the same ad hoc responses to the great challenges of our times.”

“President Obama has recognised the global economic transition that is currently underway, driven by the sustainability imperative. Tasmania can be a global leader, but it will require the Premier to show the kind of leadership he has so far been incapable of providing,” Mr McKim concluded.

Some suggestions from the Greens include:

• A dedicated Minister for Employment – to ensure that Tasmania does not slide back into the dangerous trap of long-term unemployment.
• A dedicated Minister for ICT – to ensure that the ICT sector as a voice in Cabinet;to maximise the recent Federal boost to the state’s high-speed broadband capacity;and to address the current situation which sees Tasmania ranking last in the nation when it comes to connectivity.
• Establish a Green Business Attraction Fund - target green busi­nesses from other States and overseas which are based in the low-carbon sector to relocate to Tasmania. Offer incentive packages to attract those businesses to Tasmania, and invest in growing Tasmanians green-collar jobs.
• Immediately commission a Skills Audit - to be conducted across all sectors in Tasmania to identify the skills existing in people working in vulnerable industries and match them up, or retrain, to ensure we have the skills necessary to meet the growing call for low-emissions jobs.
• Implement the Tasmanian Greens’ Forestry Transition Strategy – create a jobs rich, non-conflictive forest industry that provides up to 895 new jobs, 720 in the timber industry and 175 in tourism.
• NGO Employment Support Services - fund community service organisations to provide pre, post and ongoing employment support to those facing barriers to securing employment.
  

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