His government is investing in environmental programmes in an attempt to reduce the impact of the global downturn on its labour market. With Australian unemployment forecast to rise to 8.5% next year, Rudd has announced government plans to create 50,000 "green" jobs and apprenticeships to combat unemployment and climate change simultaneously.
"The government I lead will not stand idly by while thousands of young Australians have their hopes crushed by a global recession not of their own making," Rudd told a conference of his Labour Party.
The "green" jobs package includes 30,000 apprentice positions that offer training in environment-friendly building practices, such as installing solar energy panels and water recycling systems and retrofitting homes to be more energy efficient.
The programme will also create 10,000 positions in a national Green Jobs Corps that will provide environmental training for unemployed people between 18 and 24 and employ them in public works projects, such as planting trees and restoring walking tracks. Funds would also be set aside to generate a further 10,000 jobs that encourage sustainability and green building practices.
The announcement was welcomed by Sharan Burrow, president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, who called it "a great step forward" and evidence that “here is a prime minister who is determined to act on unemployment".
Rudd’s government has focused heavily on the environment this year and is pushing tough legislation to cut Australia's carbon dioxide emissions. Most opposition parties oppose the legislation, which goes before the Senate next month.
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