THE Coalition claims that Hunter businesses and workers are under threat from Labor’s emissions policies.

Senator Matthew Canavan, Nationals Candidate for Hunter, James Thomson, and Liberal Candidate for Paterson, Brooke Vitnell, have called on Labor to urgently explain the full effects of their emissions reduction policies on Hunter Valley businesses and workers in critical local industries.

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“Labor’s higher emissions targets will hit over 200 of Australia’s largest energy-using and producing businesses with a big new carbon tax and Hunter Valley businesses and workers are in the firing line,” Senator Canavan said.

“A Labor government would change what is known as the emissions Safeguard Mechanism and force these businesses to reduce their emissions by 25 percent by 2030.

“If they can’t, they’ll be forced to buy around 40 million carbon credits to make up the difference – that will mean less money for these businesses to create local jobs and increase wages.

“Labor can’t be trusted to protect coal jobs because their record has been anti-coal and they have a plan to put a tax on almost all Australian coal mines.

“Anthony Albanese’s claims that he ‘welcomes’ new coal mines just can’t be trusted while he plans to put a new tax on coal mining jobs.

“Hunter Valley coal mining and traditional industry businesses, and the more than 9,600 workers and their families who rely on them, will rightly be concerned that Labor is seeking to impose this cost on local industries and workers by stealth,” Mr Thomson said.

“Labor needs to explain the effects of their policies on businesses and on our coal mines that employ thousands of workers from across the electorate of Hunter and our broader region.”

“Labor has been suspiciously quiet when it comes to explaining this policy and its negative impacts.

“They don’t want you to know that they are trading in local jobs in the Hunter for inner-city votes.”

Liberal Candidate Brooke Vitnell said the Morrison-Joyce Government has a strong track record of supporting Australia’s coal mining sector.

“Mr Albanese and Labor, who introduced the carbon tax, higher energy prices and job losses can’t be trusted to protect the jobs and livelihoods of those who rely on these industries, including the over 1,000 workers at the Tomago Aluminium Smelter in the electorate of Paterson,” Ms Vitnell said.

“The Liberal/National Government supports our traditional industries, including power generation, mining and manufacturing.

“Unlike Labor, we won’t be reducing emissions at the expense of businesses and jobs in our regions.”

Incumbent Member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson, told News Of The Area, “Labor’s emission reduction policies will create jobs, as well as cut power bills and reduce emissions by boosting renewable energy.

“The move to renewables is underway.

“Only the Nationals Resources Minister seems to be denying that.

“Of course Labor will protect important industries such as coal mining.

“Such protections are written into our Powering Australia policy.

“We will ask the Department of Industry and the Clean Industry Regulator to determine revised baselines for each facility in consultation with industry.

“We will consider available and emerging technologies, and importantly, we will provide tailored treatment for emissions-intensive, trade-exposed industries.

“This will be based on the principle of comparative impact ensuring that exporters remain competitive.

“Our policy supports coal mining and coal miners.

“Between 80 percent and 90 percent of our coal is sold overseas, so the future of coal mines in the Hunter will be determined by the boards of those companies, in Japan, South Korea, India and China.

“To ask our coal mines to reduce emissions when there is no requirement for international competitors to do so would be counterproductive and unfair.

“It could lead to jobs being sent overseas without any emissions reduction, and Labor would not do that.

“Aluminium is another emissions-intensive, trade-exposed industry.

“Under Labor’s policy, Tomago Aluminium would only need to match the reductions of international competitors.”

Swanson went on to say that most of these companies have committed to more ambitious targets than the Coalition.

“It is the Liberals and Nationals who are out of step with business and community expectations, and they are the ones scaremongering,” she said.

By Marian SAMPSON