Unions are campaigning to help Australian workers sort carbon price fact from fiction.

The ACTU is campaigning in workplaces around Australia to help workers understand the facts about how a price on carbon will impact upon them.

A meeting of unions in Melbourne approved an ongoing and widespread education campaign which will involve visiting as many workers as possible to help them to absorb the effects of the plan.

It kicks off this month with an information package to be distributed within workplaces throughout Australia.

ACTU President Ged Kearney said the information kit for workers will explain what a carbon price will mean for them and their jobs, and if it will impact their hip pocket.

“Overall, the package has addressed union concerns about household costs, protection of existing jobs, and investment in new job-creating technologies and with the facts now on the table, it is clear that doomsday predictions about jobs and the impact on living costs are untrue,” she said.

“However, unions will continue to work hard to highlight outstanding concerns about the carbon price package because we are committed to ensuring all Australians have access to a decent job and that industries can manage any required changes.”

Ms Kearney said that as a result of negotiations with the government, unions had secured commitments to household financial assistance, protection of jobs, and funding for investment in new clean energy industries and jobs.

“The unions’ interest is to ensure the best outcome for Australian workers, so that they can have a good job with decent pay and conditions,” Ms Kearney said.

“Australian workers deserve an opportunity to sort the fact from the fiction in this debate. Now that unions have had a chance to fully absorb the carbon price package, we will begin visiting as many workplaces around the country to ensure we can speak directly with workers.

The package for a fixed carbon price of $23 a tonne begins in 12 months time.

Ms Kearney said it was now time for the scare campaigns to end, and for Australian industry to begin preparing to reduce their emissions and build new industries for the long-term security of their profits and their employees.

“Our first priority was to ensure that Australian families – especially low income households - did not bear the brunt of the cost. The carbon price package confirms once and for all this is not a tax on all Australians, but on the 500 largest polluters.

“Nevertheless, some of these costs will be passed on to consumers, at an average of $9.90 a week.

“The compensation package (announced by the government) ensures that many of our members and their families will not be penalised – indeed with help to reduce their own carbon consumption, they can come out ahead.

“For instance, a double income household with two kids, earning $100,000 a year, will come out in front under the carbon price measures.

“It is only reasonable and fair that compensation should be directed at lower income earners, for whom energy costs are a sizeable proportion of their household expenses.

“Secondly, we wanted to ensure that workers in carbon-exposed industries were protected.

“Crucial to this was industry assistance and a regional focus – and this has been included in the package, meaning jobs need not be lost.

“The Jobs and Competitiveness Program for emissions-intensive trade-exposed industries, particularly manufacturing, provides the buffer for these sectors to begin adjusting for a low carbon future, while giving them an incentive to begin reducing emissions now.

“Special measures for industries like steel, gassy coal mining, and electricity is welcome and gives us the pathway to improving the efficiency of these industries, not closing them down.

“But the onus is now on industry to plan for their future based on the reality of dealing with climate change. Moving to a low carbon economy is a major structural change, and unions will be part of the process of managing change in a way that no-one is left behind.

“And the third priority was that the package must position Australian industry to take advantage of the opportunities from acting now on climate change.

“The flagship $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation in this package will give Australian manufacturing that opportunity, and tens of thousands of jobs could be created if industry steps up to the plate.”

Ms Kearney said a price on carbon pollution – initially through a tax and later through a market scheme –was the most effective and cost-efficient way of taking action on climate change.

Australia is the most carbon-exposed economy in the developed world, and it would be irresponsible to delay action, with long-lasting economic consequences, she said.

“A price on carbon will force companies to reduce their pollution and transform our economy to be more energy efficient. It is the responsible thing to do, and we have made sure that the impact on workers is minimised,” she said.

“The rest of the world is already moving to cut their carbon emissions, and delay for Australia will only cost the economy and the environment more in the future.

“Unions have successfully argued that the carbon price package safeguards workers and industries, unlocks clean energy industries and jobs, and supports households and communities.

“Unions know Australian workers are up for the challenge. Let's get on with the job.”

NB: Pensioners and other consumers should be alert to a new scam that is trying to use the announcement of the carbon price household assistance package to obtain bank account numbers and other personal information, the Minister for Families, Community Services, Housing and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin has warned. This scam is an opportunistic attempt to use the announcement of the carbon price household assistance package to try and rip off unsuspecting pensioners.