Isra-Mart srl : Industry union chief Martin O'Malley wants big carbon polluters jailed

Isra-Mart srl news:

THE head of a South Australian union representing workers in carbon intensive industries, says major polluters should be taxed and jailed.

Martin O'Malley, state secretary of of the SA branch of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, made the statement addressing a pro-carbon tax rally in Adelaide last month, reported AdelaideNow.

Mr O'Malley told protesters "carbon polluters shouldn't just be taxed they should be jailed".

Yesterday he stood by the comment.

"People who pollute should be jailed," he said. "The biggest polluters are the biggest multi-nationals in Australia."

In South Australia, the CFMEU represents workers at OneSteel in Whyalla and Nyrstar in Port Pirie, two of the biggest carbon-emitting industries in the state.

The CFMEU national branch has previously indicated it would not support a carbon tax if it led to loss of jobs.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday rejected claims by Australian Workers' Union state secretary Wayne Hanson that a carbon tax would wipe out jobs in industry-reliant Whyalla and Port Pirie.

"Strong words don't make it right, and that's completely untrue. We will be protecting Australian jobs as we price carbon," she said.

"We're consulting now on the details. Business and unions are part of that consultation, and then we will announce the full design of the scheme."

The Multi-Party Climate Change Committee, including Labor, the Greens and rural independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott, met yesterday to consider details of the proposed tax, including the pricing mechanisms and a household assistance package.

But Mr Windsor indicated he would wait for a Productivity Commission report on how other nations are tackling climate change expected next month before deciding on his position.

"If the rest of the world is doing nothing I'll probably do nothing," he said.

Climate Change Minister Greg Combet fronted mining and steel-producing companies, including BHP Billiton and OneSteel, for industry talks on the tax.

He said the Government "has on the table a very significant assistance package for the steel works".