Government promises 50,000 new green jobs

Although it hasn’t gained much attention yet, the Federal government has been trying hard to convince Australians that the nation’s move to a greener economy will be accompanied by the creation of many new jobs.

This will be an uphill battle for the government, as many of the 55 year old coal miners, who have traditionally voted Lahor, are very sceptical about such changes.

So far, the government has been using question time in Federal parliament, as its main weapon.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, told parliament yesterday that Australia would see 50,000 new jobs created, as the government moved to tackle climate change.

Young people would be given training in the new skills that would be required, in areas like plumbing and the maintenance of hybrid cars.

Older workers would also have retraining available, to update their skills.

Although she did not say so, Ms Gillard was relying on Treasury research.

The Federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan, was more specific, in a reply he gave parliament earlier this week.

“There is Treasury modelling on this,” Mr Swan said.

He said $31 billion worth of clean energy projects were already under way or planned “in response to the government’s climate change policies, according to a Climate Institute study.

“We on this side of the house are the party that is supporting jobs,” Mr Swan said.

He described climate change sceptics in the Senate as “economic vandals.”