2023-02-28
The Greens have offered to cooperate with the Government to establish a National Energy Transition Authority, with a Bill currently before the Parliament introduced by Greens Industry spokesperson Senator Penny Allman-Payne.
With the Liberals and Nationals opposing attempts to shift away from coal and gas, the Greens have offered to work with Labor to establish an Authority to guide the transition and protect workers in affected regional communities.
Comments attributable to Greens Industry and Transition spokesperson Senator Penny Allman-Payne:
“This is an opportunity to work together to deliver a just transition for workers and their communities. I welcome Labor’s cooperation on establishing a transition authority.
"I have a Bill in the Parliament right now that would kickstart the coordination that we so desperately need.
“If the government and Greens are able to work together to make this authority a reality during the life of this parliament, we will blunt the Coalition’s climate scare campaigns and render them even more irrelevant than they already are, while securing the futures of tens of thousands of workers across the country.
“There is a real gap in federal policy settings to do with coordination. With energy policy changes being driven by state and federal governments, as well as international factors, Australia needs a National Energy Transition Authority to coordinate the transition and ensure that workers and their communities aren't sidelined.
“Where I live, in Central Queensland, coal and gas workers tell me they know their jobs are on the way out and they’re sick of governments pretending that it isn’t happening. They want some honesty, and they want a plan. There is so much opportunity for new jobs and industries in the coal regions, we just need to get on with it.”
Giving evidence before the Senate Economics Committee, Dr Amanda Cahill, CEO of The Next Economy said: “At a federal level there is so much work being done in the energy space right now… there’s a lot of confusion about how these things can work together. So who’s job is it to … help clarify the different programs and funding that is in place and channel it to where it needs to go in a timely fashion… Now is the time to establish a National Transition Authority.”
About the bill:
The National Energy Transition Authority Bill establishes a new independent public authority to guide Australia’s shift from an economy powered by polluting coal and gas to one powered by reliable, secure and low-cost renewable energy.
By providing national coordination, expert advice and funding, the National Energy Transition Authority will work with communities, workers, unions, energy companies and governments at all levels to plan the pipeline of clean energy projects, creating good, secure jobs and opening up new export markets while pushing down power prices for homes and businesses.
The core functions of the NETA are:
-
to support communities and workers affected by the closure of coal and gas extraction and power generation to adapt, including by helping to attract new public and private investment in job-creating industries and social infrastructure to affected areas, and ensuring ongoing equivalent employment or social services are provided;
-
working with employers in relevant industries to encourage workforce pooling, to enable workers to shift between employers where skills are transferable; and
-
planning with workers and relevant agencies to assist workers nearing retirement age to transition to a voluntary, financially secure retirement.
The NETA’s board will be composed of experts in energy, workplace planning and engineering, along with worker representatives, and will be responsible for developing strategic plans to manage the energy transition. The Authority will be independent of government but guided by government policy and decision-making that may overlap with the Authority’s work.