Greens' call on energy

Daily Telegraph
Wednesday 18/3/2009 Page: 17

THE NSW Greens have accused Newcastle Lord Mayor John Tate of "foolishly clinging to a bygone era" by calling to delay the Government's emissions trading scheme. Mr Tate was one of several mayors who yesterday said that the scheme should be put on hold because it risked too many local mining jobs.

But Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said mining accounted for only 3% of the Hunter's workforce, down from 4% in 1996. "John Tate should be lobbying Premier Nathan Rees to invest in Hunter-based renewable energy industries to create long-term local jobs growth," she said.

"The potential for Hunter based jobs in renewable energy and public transport is massive and jobs created would last for many decades, unlike coalmining jobs." Greens councillor Michael Osborne said jobs in retail, education, health, tourism and the arts not mining would drive Newcastle's future economic growth. "Newcastle's future is culture, not coal." he said.