The Rudd Government’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will offer little help for the Central Queensland or Manufacturing industries, compared to their European counterparts, according to The Nationals Senator Ron Boswell. Speaking in Mackay today, Senator Boswell said that “the European Commission’s recently stated position on carbon leakage will cause serious damage to Australian jobs and industry, especially in Central Queensland”. “While Kevin Rudd and Penny Wong play their political games, Europe is quietly stabbing us in the back with their sham ETS, effectively handing out up to 100% free permits across 164 industrial sectors and sub-sectors.” “Some of the sectors and sub-sectors which pursuant to Article 10a (13) of Directive 2003/87EC, are deemed to be exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage include – • Mining and agglomeration of hard coal • Manufacture of cement • Mining of chemical and fertilizer minerals • Aluminium production • Manufacture of steel tubes.” This is just a sample of the industries which are being protected in the European ETS while their costs go up under the Australian ETS.  It is easy to see who the losers will be.” Senator Boswell said that “he worries about coal towns like Mackay, Dysart, Blackwater, Middlemount and Moranbah especially with the dour predictions this week by the Australian Coal Association that 16 Coal mines will close and more than 9000 direct and indirect jobs lost in the first nine years of the ETS. “Already the Bowen Basin has lost 3,500 jobs in 12 months and Rockhampton has had a Cement Works mothballed. Central Queensland can’t afford to lose any more jobs.” “Labor’s ETS is about closing down coal and running the economy on renewable power. It costs $40 per kilowatt hour to power a factory with coal, but it costs $100 per hour to power a factory with wind and $200 per hour to power a factory with photovoltaic cells. How on earth does Australia compete with those cost disadvantages?” “The latest Newspoll shows that the Coalition’s two Party preferred vote outside capital cities has jumped to 51% which is higher than that vote at the last election.” “Coalition Senators and Members in regional areas have been explaining how the ETS will hurt the regions and the message is getting through.” “The ETS is finished in the bush and Labor politicians like James Bidgood, who supports it, risk losing their seats at the next Federal election.” “The ETS represents damage to jobs and businesses particularly in regional areas and are rightly fearful of what it will mean to their jobs, families and communities.” ENDS