METAL companies are part of the alliance between Australia’s richest companies and the Australian Workers Union aiming to prevent the Federal Government’s carbon trading scheme from shutting key industries.
BlueScope Steel, Rio Tinto, Alcoa, Qantas and Shell are participating in a 23 July 2008 roundtable hosted by the Australian Workers Union. This alliance is seen by many as a challenge to the Government’s emissions trading scheme.
The AWU claims the campaign is not about fighting the Government. It says the alliance will work with the government to preserve the Australian industry.
Employer groups such as the Business Council of Australia will also be at the meeting, trying to ensure emissions-intensive industries such as aluminium, steel, oil and gas will have a viable future.
Many in the industry fear Australia’s early adoption of a pollution-cutting emissions trading scheme will destroy regional centres and cut investment, especially if countries like India and China do not follow suit.

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