Thread by @Trish_Corry

So In SMH @AlboMP backed coal exports. I just want to raise some points before someone cues the pile on.

Australia has relied on one main commodity for a very long time. We are the leading exporter of coal in the world. Many regions have a high concentration of heavy industry.

2. The push away from coal globally coupled with automation means we are facing the biggest change since the Industrial revolution. This means we need to stop the division as we are facing mass jobs displacement if not done right.

3. Mass joblessness, as we know has severe psychological affects on humans. From lack of self worth, to suicide. Mass joblessness equals mass poverty. Here is one video to watch on the impacts of willingly causing job displacement via automation.

4. The main approach to combat climate change is to shut down coal. Coal is used globally for energy and production of other goods like steel. We are the leading supplier of coal to many countries, including China. This is $47 BILLION of export.

5. States benefit from the export of our main commodity. It helps build and fund schools, roads and hospitals, in the form of coal royalties and other taxes.

6. The call for mass jobs displacement along with loss of major revenue will have severe economic impacts. It’s important to think of severe economic impacts scenarios handled by conservatives are in charge. They always target the poor, which will be many of us.

7. We have two alternatives. The first is the main push to cease coal production in Australia. The argument is this will raise the price of coal and put pressure on other countries to go renewable.

8. As we are the leading exporter and there are many other export countries, we do not know how long we cripple our economy, navigate joblessness, poverty, while other countries decide to cease importing coal. If you could predict markets & commodities you’d be very rich.

9. The current climate action push by Greens and other activists, is the ideology of Abbott and Thatcher.

👉 Displace workers for an aim
👉 Respond in a curative unemployment framework by placing the onus on the worker for joblessness with token assistance. Punish joblessness

10. The above is not democratic socialism. It is not worker centric. It is transactional, treating workers as a commodity, ignoring the human aspects of change. If Libs weren’t invested in coal barons, they’d support this. It’s the Liberal way.

11. This response is a reactive response, not a proactive response. It is ignorant of the complexity of coal regions & how coal affects everything from jobs, business, population growth, what funding councils get, house prices, housing, future investment, employment.

12. Despite the throwing around of empty concepts of transition. Those pushing transition haven’t consulted with these regions, nor understand them. Agency is important in change. CC activists & Greens deny regional workers & communities self agency as participants in change.

13. The above scenario, is why those who have come across me before, read my blog, have seen me take on climate change activists and Greens. In short, I am not pro coal, but pro jobs, anti poverty and support self agency & inclusion in change. To not do so, is very privileged.

14. The other scenario @AlboMP outlined in his policy speech, is to become the leading supplier of renewables to the world, by using our coal resources and benefits of industrial make up and skilled workforce.

15. By supplying other countries with renewables and assoc infrastructure, including developing countries through direct assistance trade programs, we would enter the market as a leading, manufacturer, supplier, innovator and maintainer of renewables products.

16. As in scenario one, this too would place pressure on other countries to go renewable and as opposed to the preferred scenario pushed by activists, would expedite the take up rate globally by countries. This then places pressure on coal supply, by reducing the demand.

17. Some coal is still required for coal made products (metallurgical) and also some thermal, but thermal (energy would decrease)

18. This approach also will assist developing nations gain access to electricity. Many people in ASEAN nations have no access to cooking or heating. This impacts on poverty and disease. To deny this is sickening privilege.

19. This approach opposite to the preferred approach is transformational, not a transactional approach. This approach is in a preventative unemployment framework, not a curative unemployment framework. This is a Democratic Socialist approach. This is in Albo’s policy speech.

20. This approach will see us use our resources to develop the world in renewables, reducing the demand for thermal coal supply and create a new export industry. This will naturally create more job competition and if targeted to set up in regions, will diversify local economies

21. By developing regions in this way, we give communities agency in change. We give workers self agency of career change, we recognise and take great care in recognising the human elements of change. We are proactive and not reactive. It’s the opposite of Abbott & Thatcher.

22. The market will decide coal use globally. It is how we decide to respond and engage in that, that will renew us or kill us as a nation that enjoys relatively good quality of life.

23. Politically the Greens party have targeted Labor, rather than the Libs for the last four years. By attacking coal regions and workers. This has developed into a huge division between city & regions. People fearing for their own livelihoods voted against the left in droves.

24. The first option and activism around it, has seen huge division, the working class left, lumped in with the job cancelling enviro left, mainly through the media lens of propaganda and social media climate activism of intentionally suffocating Labor’s election platform online.

25. Those attacking Albo and others (including me) for being right wing, are supporting an Abbott & Thatcher approach. All I ask is you consider the alternative. The alternative needs people to support Labor, not feed & keep fueling the division that enables the Liberals.