CFMEU demands candidates sign pledge supporting coal industry
CFMEU demands Labor MPs, candidates sign pledge to support coal industry.
The CFMEU has today sent out a document for Queensland Labor MPs and candidates to pledge their support for the coal mining industry.
The powerful mining union, which is a major financial backer of Labor, warned in February that it would campaign against any candidate or MP who refused to sign the pledge.
The “Candidates Pledge,’’ sent out just hours after Prime Minister Scott Morrison this morning called a May 18 federal election, calls for their declared support of the coal mining industry and pointedly, in reference to the proposed Adani coalmine, for “coal mining developments that meet regulatory requirements’’.
CFMEU Mining and Energy Queensland president Steve Smyth first issued his warning that the union would campaign against candidates after the Queensland state Labor government delayed the Adani coalmine with an 11th hour review of an environmental management plan.
The unheralded external review of Adani’s plan to protect an endangered finch to a Melbourne academic was attacked by the union as biased against coal.
CFMEU PLEDGE: Mobile users click here.
Federal Labor has also signalled it has concerns about the process leading up to the Federal Government’s approval of Adani’s water management plan, which won final approval this week after it was endorsed by the CSIRO and GeoScience.
Authorised by Mr Smyth, the pledge requires the signatures of Labor MPs and candidates.
“This federal election we need candidates who are committed to standing up for Queensland coal mining and energy workers’ rights and jobs,’’ the document says.
“I support coal mining jobs and recognise their value to our communities and economy
“I support approval of coal mining developments that meet regulatory requirements
“I commit to holding coal mining industry to account for providing permanent, safe, well-paid, local jobs.
The pledge also calls for support for changes to industrial relations laws, the use of “permanent casual’’ employment in the mining industry and equal pay for labour hire coal workers.
“I support fixing broken IR laws so that coal mining and energy workers can bargain fairly with their employers.’’
The pledge could prove a critical stepping stone for a number of Labor candidates in marginal Coalition-held seats in central and north Queensland — including Flynn, Capricornia, Dawson and the Labor-held seats of Herbert — where the proposed Adani coalmine is being touted as critical to jobs growth.
The project is set to pave the way to open-up the burgeoning Galilee coal province, in central Queensland where there are five other coal projects totalling $30 billion.
But the project has been opposed by green groups, arguing Australia should not be opening-up a new coal province in the face of climate change.
Mr Smyth today said all mining developments, including Adani, deserved to be assessed fairly on their merits.
“Coal mining plays an important role in Queensland’s economy and we need political representatives who recognise the importance of the industry to creating jobs and supporting communities,” he said today.
“We are delighted that third-generation coalminer Russell Robertson, Labor’s candidate for Capricornia, has signed the pledge. I can’t think of a better representative for central Queensland coal mineworkers in Canberra.”
Mr Smyth has previously attacked Nationals MPs in central and north Queensland for claiming to support the coalmining industry but not backing the union on workers’ entitlements.
In February, Mr Smyth told The Australian the mining union will endorse only individual candidates who sign the pledge in the battleground state rather than give blanket support to Labor.
“We will request a pledge from them … If you want support for us, you pledge your support for the coal industry,” Mr Smyth told The Australian.
“If we have to, we will campaign against those MPs no matter which party they’re in. Even if they’re perched up in the little cosy suburbs somewhere in the southeast drinking their lattes.”
Queensland acting premier Jackie Trad would not commit to signing the pledge, saying she could “have a look at it”.
“I support the resource sector industry in Queensland — always have, always will,” Ms Trad said.
“We are a resource-rich state and we have got in abundance the types of minerals that we need, both for the traditional economy and the new economy.”