Business chamber wants freeze on carbon scheme

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The Queensland Chamber of Commerce and Industry says the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme must be postponed until the economy is revived.

The scheme, which is due to be introduced next year, will require some companies to buy a permit for every tonne of greenhouse gas they emit.

President Beatrice Booth says the scheme is unsuitable for the current economic climate.

“When these plans were made we were a glowing and growing economy and everything was going really well,” she said.

“But it’s not so now, so I think we really need some new strategies for the new environment that we’re in.”

The chamber also says the Government’s second economic stimulus package has come just in time to save laid off mine workers in the state’s north.

Under the Government’s national building and jobs plan, new defence housing will be built in Townsville and Cairns, while nearly every school in the country will get a new building.

Ms Booth says the projects will create construction jobs for unemployed former miners.

“In Townsville you will see hopefully a large amount of that defence housing spending, so that will certainly encourage your construction market,” she said.

“The upgrading of the buildings in the schools will also touch on every region.”