Would
the prime minister rule out protecting Australians from terrorism if it
cost a single job? Would he promise that no nurse, teacher or other
public servant would be sacked in pursuit of a budget surplus? Of course
not. But when it comes to preventing dangerous climate change, the
government whose policies closed the entire Australian car industry claims that every job is sacred. Yeah, right.
the prime minister rule out protecting Australians from terrorism if it
cost a single job? Would he promise that no nurse, teacher or other
public servant would be sacked in pursuit of a budget surplus? Of course
not. But when it comes to preventing dangerous climate change, the
government whose policies closed the entire Australian car industry claims that every job is sacred. Yeah, right.
The one thing we can say with certainty about the coal industry is
that, regardless of climate policy, automation will decimate coal
communities in the coming decade. The coal companies sacked around half
their workforce in the late 80s – the minute new technology let them –
and the coal industry is gearing up to do it again. Adani promised its
proposed Queensland coalmine would be automated “from pit to port” and
the rest of the industry is publicly preparing for the same goal.