Click here to sign the statement!
Trade unionists reject Morrison’s “Gas-Fired Recovery” – No to the Santos Narrabri Gas project – Climate jobs and justice now!
Recent bushfires, heatwaves and water-shortages have made it clear to millions of workers in Australia that we are living through a climate emergency.
But Scott Morrison’s “Gas-Fired Recovery” plan is fast-tracking approval for gas projects and pouring millions of dollars of public money into new gas infrastructure, at a time when we desperately need to shift away from fossil fuels and create jobs in renewable energy.
Morrison’s claim that gas is a “low-emissions” technology is a dangerous farce. Gas is a carbon-intensive fossil fuel and gas production involves large-scale fugitive emissions of methane, an incredibly potent greenhouse gas. A recent report by the Global Energy Monitor found that if the $56 billion of gas pipeline infrastructure planned in Australia is all built, this would allow pumping of green-houses gases equivalent to thirty-three 1000MW coal fired power stations.
In NSW alone, Morrison’s policy is driving the development of new gas fields, pipelines and potentially five new gas-fired power stations.
The Narrabri Gas project, with up to 850 coal-seam gas wells, would be a carbon bomb, destroy fragile ecosystems, desecrate Gamilaraay lands and threaten to pollute water in the Great Artesian Basin.
Morrison wants to build a new gas power station with public money at Kurri Kurri, to replace the ageing coal-fired plant at Liddell, and feed it with gas from Santos.
In the middle of an unemployment crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a desperate need for government action to create new, ongoing jobs.
Rather than a “Gas Fired recovery”, which will exacerbate climate change and lock in polluting infrastructure for generations to come, we call for an economic recovery policy based on principles of justice for workers, First Nations and the climate.
Many thousands of jobs could be created through massive investment in publicly owned and operated renewable energy, public transport and other infrastructure needed to rapidly decarbonise the economy. With proper planning, this would ensure a just transition for fossil-fuel workers and secure a future for other essential industries, workplaces and communities currently reliant on fossil-fuels.
We stand with Gamilaraay people resisting Santos’ plans to destroy their country and the many First Nations people across Australia also fighting against gas projects planned on their lands.
We recognise the rights of First Nations to control development on their lands and enjoy employment opportunities to manage and rehabilitate their lands.
We call on the trade union movement to commit to active opposition to Morrison’s “gas-fired recovery” and fight for climate jobs and justice.
We demand:
- No to Morrison’s “Gas-Fired Recovery” – No new fossil-fuel projects.
- A just transition for workers and communities currently reliant on fossil-fuels, including with job guarantees.
- Santos out of the Pillaga and off Gamilaraay lands – stop the Narrabri gas project and supporting infrastructure.
- Build a 100% publicly owned renewable energy system NOW!
Click here to sign the statement!
This statement was initiated by Workers for Climate Action, Sydney.
Current signatories include:
Vanessa Seagrove, Assistant Secretary, Unions NSW
Paul Keating, Branch Secretary, MUA Sydney Branch
Brett Holmes, General Secretary, NSW Nurses and Midwives Association
Mark Northam, Secretary, IEU
Kylie Mckelvie, President, PSA
Denis McNamara, CFMEU Delegate
Steve Banks, Construction Organiser, ETU
Jacquie Myers, Vice-President, RPAH NSWNMA Branch
Natalie Wasley, Site committee delegate, MUA
Amity Lynch NTEU Organiser
Hannah Archer Lawton NSWTF Organiser
Cassandra Barford NSWNMA Delegate
Keiko Yasukawa NTEU Delegate
Jan Ogden NSWNMA Branch President
Erin Francis NSWNMA Organiser
Skye Romer NSWNMA Branch Secretary
Kay Burns NSWNMA Delegate
Jim Donovan National Secretary MUA Veterans
Shane Reside MUA Sydney Branch Organiser
Fiona Maley NTEU Delegate
Charlotte Brady RAFFWU Delegate
Deanna Hayes NSWNMA Delegate
Viv Honan NSWTF Councillor
Angela Gittus NSWNMA Branch Secretary
Louise K Fitzgerald NTEU Delegate
Tasha Linke United Workers Union Organiser
Giovanna Bonelli RTBU Divisional Councillor
Robert Boncardo NTEU Branch Committee Member
Nick Reimer NTEU Branch Committee Member
Michael Namrell IEU Councillor and Work place rep
Brendan De Silva United Workers Union Delegate
Alec Beville ETU Rail Delegate
Neil Evans UWU Delegate
Wayne Wobcke NTEU Branch Committee Member, UNSW Branch
Jufur Kutim UWU Organiser
Jagath Bandara ITF Lead Organiser
Swapnik Saragavarapu USYD SRC President
Tasha Linke United Workers Union Organiser
Barry Gardner MUA. Sydney Branch Veterans Member
Amanda Lockett NTEU Ordinary Committee Member
Ruby Wawn NTEU Delegate
Robert Car HSU Delegate
Gabi NSWNMA Officer
Janet Roden New South Wales Nurses & Midwives’ Association Professional Officer
Damien Davis Frank NSWNMA Delegate
Keiko Yasukawa NTEU Delegate
Fiona Maley NTEU Delegate
Caitlin Doyle-Markwick MEAA
Rosemary Saul NTEU
Liz Rechniewski NTEU
Miranda Samsa-Knapp NTEU
Patricia Evans HSU Member
Robert Car United Workers Union Member
Peyvand Firouzeh University of Sydney
Nicole Roberts Yes – NTEU
Juliet Bennett NETU
Sarah Bates NTEU/ UAW (USA)
Claire Hooker NTEU member
Brian Debus Ex Teachers Federation (retired)
Amber Teachers Federation
Kristy Ellis independent education union
Neil Poetschka ASU
Cheree Desreany NSWNMA
Monica Crouch IEU/MEAA
Amy Martin IEU
Eliza Hoye NSWNMA
Penny Pederson USU
Erima Dall MUA
Ruben Fela Maritime Union
Evan Breen Mua Rank and file
Margaret Hope Teachers Federation
Lone Hansen HSU
Sarah Ellyard NSWNMA- Macquarie Hospital Branch
Angie Gittus NSWNMA- Murwillumbah Hospital Branch
Catherine Clark NSWNMA
Mark Quealy NSWNMA
Grace Searle NSWNMA
Chris Nimmo NSWNMA
Elizabeth Turner NSWNMA Registered Nurse
Damian Nswnma
Niko Chlopicki United Worker’s Union
Feiyi Zhang Australian Services Union
Miroslav Sandev NTEU
Norm Short ETU
Dr Clare Cooper NTEU
Stephanie V PSA
Lachlan Good MEAA
Robert Car UWU & RTBU Activist Member
Peter Blackman None. (ex CWU and others)
Sue Virago None
Mark Goudkamp NSW Teachers Federation
Jim McIlroy CPSU Retired
Jean Parker NTEU
Diana Shahinyan NTEU
Mick Kaufman ASU Member
Cooper Forsyth United Workers Union
Melissa Seymour NSWTF
Tommy-John Herbert MUA Activist
Dominic Thomas United Workers Union
Andrew Olsson CFMMEU Rank and file
Robyn ELLWOOD Nurses and midwives
Maree McDermott ASU Life member
jacqueline UWU
Penny B NSW Nurses’ & Midwives’ Association
Heather Ryan NSWNMA
Timothy Davis Frank NSW Teachers Federation Member
Tom Fiebig SDA
Ryan Mcgibbon-Thompson Maritime union of Australia
Matilda Fay NTEU NSW
Peter Robinson USU
B. Devenyi Botos NSW Teachers Federation
S Rowland NSW Teachers Federation
M Coote NSW Teachers Federation
Patricia Chen NSW Teachers Federation
Gai Wholohan NSW Teachers Federation
Kay Kim NSW Teachers Federation
Chris Yates NSW Teachers Federation
Sarah Attfield NTEU/UTS
Deanna Hayes NSWNMA
Charlotte Brady RAFFWU
Lachlan Good MEAA
Daniel Smendely FSU
Louise Katz NTEU
Emma Easterbrook IEU
Emmanuel monteiro NSW teachers Federation
Adam Baldock UWU
Stella Babidge RAFFWU
Ellie Williams CPSU
Violet Stokoe-Miller NTEU
Arron Platt CFMMEU
Peter Murphy MEAA
Evan Gray UWU
M Cuhhimo CFMEU
Darren Gimam CFMEU
Luke McConnell MUA
Jye Challenor MUA
Beau Challenor MUA
Ethan Tipping MUA
Bradley Anderson MUA
Alex Suhle UWU
John Dempsey CFMMEU
Kerry Farrell MUA
Bailey Murphy MUA
Dean Smith MUA
Paul McAleer MUA
David Douglas NTEU
Mark Gawne NTEU
Jeane Wells NTEU
Sheryl Vine NTEU
Chrisanthi Goitis NTEU
Thalia Anthony NTEU
SS4C Australia NA
Benny Kreger MUA
J King MUA
Wal Pritchard Retired MUA
Matt Lawrence MUA
Zac Russell MUA
Glen Mallon MUA
Tony Burgess MUA
Robert Campbell MUA
Jamie Moran MUA
Terry Relph MUA
Barney Gardner MUA
Bruce Ho MUA
Kevin Tuckwell MUA
Jeff Carroll MUA
Leonard Hemmings MUA
Nicole Roberts NTEU
Liam Orr UWU
Janine Kitson NSWTF
Darren Hall FBEU
Bronwyn Kelly RTBU
Justin Bradley NSWTF
Greg Kennedy MUA
Tracy Ryan MUA
Craig Sheahan MUA
Hayley Edmonds UWU
Bernadette Ellisha HSA
Alana Cruikshank HSA
Rashedo Bowers ASU
Helen Westwood ASU
Shane Bentley MUA
Luke Pullen MUA
Joe McDonald MUA
Shawley Kanaan CFMEU
Mark Perkin CFMEU
Bill Bone CFMEU
N. Correna CFMEU
Ethan Hough CFMEU
Mick Walker CFMEU
Nyang Acuein CFMEU
Emmie Shuttleworth CFMEU
Toru Rashelo CFMEU
Katie Hepworth ASU
Rowena Parry Teachers Federation
Lachlan Good MEAA
Josh Dodsworth HSU
Ama Samarah FSU
J Wilson CFMEU
Joanne Moffitt NSWNMA
Rowena Parry Teachers Federation
Ama Somaratna FSU
Lachlan Good MEAA
Josh Dodsworth HSU
Timothy Davis Frank NSW Teachers Federation Member
Chris Lovelee MUA
Matthew Hirst MUA
Yanis Sigvas CFMEU
George Joseph CFMEU
Moses Taku CFMEU
Concetta Hamilton AUWU
Rebel Hanlon CFMEU
Mark Cunningham CFMEU
Dr Clare Cooper NTEU
Sally Chessell none
Kurt Iveson NTEU
Tom Fiebig SDA
Peter Bee NTEU
Donald Skerman APESMA
Jane Thorn ASMOA
Vivian S. n/a
Glen Williamson MUA
Ben Roberts MUA
Robert Clarke MUA
Hannah Morgan ASU
Justin Hewitt CFMEU
Mia Dabelstein UWU
Jason Ward UWU
Anna Blake RTBU NSW n/a
Miguel Dominguez United Workers Union
Joey Reinhard RAFFWU
Harpreet Dhanjal United Workers Union
Craig Atkins United Workers Union
Jeannine Banakat PSA
Y. Moloney NSW Teachers Federation
M. Walker CFMEU
G. Slater FBEU
Len Hobbs NSW Teachers Federation
J. Ladevig AWU
Viola Morris NSWNMA
Rich Clough USU
William Simmons FSU
Frank Webb PSA
Rohitesh Nrayan CFMEU
Adrian Sarrat NSW Teachers Federation
Carly Phillips NSWTF
Izabella Nantsou NTEU
Alan Roberts NTEU
Elizabeth Vleeskens NTEU
Ben Eldridge NTEU
Sertan Saral NTEU
Christian Gelder N/A Usyd
Mila Heneck NTEU/ Hospovoice
Markela Panegyres NTEU
James Whelan Australian Services Union Member
Alana Louise Bowden NTEU The University of Sydney
Dominic Thomas United Worker’s Union
Nick Dobrijevich NTEU
Mya Walmsley RTBU
Phoebe cook Australian service union
Kelton Muir de Moore National tertiary education union
Finola Laughren NTEU/UWU
Cameron Lawrence NTEU & RAFFWU
Rochford NTEU
Aniela United services union
Drew Beacom United Workers Union
Nicholas Avery NTEU
Lone Hansen Hsu
Paul Smyth ASU
Naomi Christian FSU Member
Anne Junor National Tertiary Education Union Life Member
Angela Moles NTEU UNSW
Richard Corkish NTEU
adam hulbert NTEU
Louise McKenzie NTEU Member
Bronwen Morgan NTEU Member
Kynan Tan NTEU
Steven Kwon ASU
Meloni Muir NTEU
Sonia Mattson NTEU
Paul IEU Worker
Martin Magee UWU Factory Operative.
Sean Bowes NTEU
Jack O’Brien NSWTF
Mark Kearin NSWNMA
Tom Rane NSW NMA
Paddy Byrne USU
Rachel Fall USU
Keith Quayle NSW CAFP
Wayne Sonter AUWU
Richard Hasseul CPSU
Jacque Carouska AMWU
Nathan Everson AMWU
Ian Sherwood HSU
Connor Daly SDA – IKEA
Rebeccah Miller CPSU
Ozge Aktas ADSU
Semre Coban ECSC
Serdar Gencer DKCC
Michael Whaites NSWNMA
Brett Holmes NSWNMA
Wendy Smith NSWNMA
Veronika Black NSWNMA
Koady Williams NSWNMA
Siobhan Fulton NSWNMA
Ian Dixon UWU
Jess Ashdown PTEU
Toby Fitch NTEU
Lucy Petchell USYD
David Brophy USYD NTEU
Joel Griggs USYD NTEU
Georgia Carr USYD NTEU
Finola Laughren USYD NTEU
Robert Boncardo USYD NTEU
Declan Caruso MEAA Member
Sophie Adams NTEU UNSW
Patricia Evans HSU Member
Louise McKenzie NTEU member
Micheal Thomson NTEU
This statement was initiated by Workers for Climate Action, Sydney.
Workers 4 Climate Action 