Business Leader welcomes ALP Climate Policy / data shows the nation is unprepared for an ETS

The author behind a recent survey on green jobs, business & climate change has offered strong support in response to Labours announcement of its climate change policy this morning.

Matthew Tukaki, who is also the former Head of the nation’s largest employment company Drake Australia, has said that the response may fall short of consumer and individual voter demands, but the approach of getting the framework right is sensible:

“Our recent survey, released just prior to the election being called, did indicate that while business generally accepted that an ETS was inevitable, there was just not enough understanding about what an ETS would mean to them or what the implications would be for their specific industry sector.

64% of respondents are not clear on what the impacts of an Emissions Trading Scheme or a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme will be on them (or their industry)

78% of respondents believe that not enough is being done to explain the key policies or their potential impacts

63% of respondents believe that the Australian economy does not have the adequate number of green skills to manage an ETS implementation or its aftermath

59% of organisations are moving ahead with the implementation of their own carbon reduction programs

76% of respondents also don’t understand or are confused by what the Opposition means as direct action

So, for business this is a good outcome because it provides time to build the necessary awareness around impacts and implications, as well as begin the mapping process for what skills will be required in the economy and where those skills will come from.” Mr Tukaki said

“I think we need to be clear and understand that without that awareness and understanding around implications, without the important elements of defining what skills will be required and where they come from, you run the risk of implementing a framework that will fail at the first outing. You cannot simply set a price on carbon and then re-engineer the back end of an economy, you have to prepare it first.” Mr Tukaki said

“The challenge for the Government and the Opposition would have been the implementation of an ETS or setting a universal price carbon without also understanding the impacts on consumers. In New Zealand energy prices surged after the implementation of that ETS post July 1^st 2010, and calls were made by the regulator warning against price gauging. At a time when cost of living is increasing setting an upfront price on carbon could very well impact the consumer side of the economy in addition to business.” Mr Tukaki has said

“We need to prepare economy for the opportunities that come with climate change, not just the challenges. A recent survey showed (ACTU / Conservation Foundation) that in Queensland alone a further 3.7 million jobs over twenty could be added.” Mr Tukaki said

Mr Tukaki is currently working on establishing the first National Green Jobs Index for Australia that will track and map job creation in the green economy and will provide raw data on what types of jobs are being created across the various industry sectors.

For comment: Matthew Tukaki, 0435 636 373

For copy of the survey results see: http://www.sansgov.com/mediaclimatesurveyjuly.html

SansGov was formed in 2001 as a knowledge and information management consultancy. In 2003 it added business transformation and change management to its scope of services and in 2009 the business introduced a sustainability practice. SansGov has been behind a range of significant reviews including the review of information management at the Joint House Department of the Parliament of Australia and the Australian Communications Authority. Matthew Tukaki is the CEO of SansGov

About Matthew Tukaki:

Matthew Tukaki is CEO of SansGov and is the former Head of Drake Australia, the nation’s oldest and largest employment company. In addition to leading Drake in Australia, Matthew was also responsible for the business in Asia and was the companies power of attorney. Matthew is also the former Chairman of the WorkWise group’s executive committee and on the 1^st of July 2010 assumed the role as Australia’s representative to the United Nations Global Compact (www.unglobalcompact.com) . The UNGC is the world’s largest business and industry led corporate social responsibility program with some 7,000 members worldwide.

Future surveys:

Green jobs and skills: August 2010

Business reaction to climate change policies and announcements: September 2010

A copy of the full report with analysis will be released from the 19^th of July. For a copy email info@sansgov.com