A new government authority called RenewAustralia would deliver a 15 year pipeline of clean energy projects through a combination of reverse auctions and direct investment, according to the Greens said.
“Even though there are already more people working in clean energy construction than coal-fired generation, the impacts of closures on coal workers and communities are significant,” the RenewAustralia strategy document states.
“Australia, like the global energy market, is undergoing massive structural shifts and it is therefore inevitable that many coal workers will lose their jobs.
“The Greens believe it is the government’s responsibility to ensure these workers are looked after so that no coal power worker has to suffer the anxiety and financial insecurity that comes from abruptly losing their job.
“That is why our staged plan for closure of coal-fired power stations includes measures to attract new 21st century industries to those areas that need it, whether it be new power sector jobs, new industries attracted to Australia because of our clean and affordable power or measures like mine site restoration that will give many older workers the chance to use their skills repairing the landscape and offer them a bridge to retirement.”
RenewAustralia will be tasked with assisting communities and workers to transition as coal-fired power stations close.
To support workers and communities, RenewAustralia will have access to a fund – the Clean Energy Transition Fund – “to ensure no coal worker is left behind”
“Training and re-skilling programs, investment support for new businesses and enterprises, and funding to assist new industries to move to affected areas will be some of the options RenewAustralia will be charged with implementing,” according to the RenewAustralia document.
The fund will start with an initial amount of $250 million and over the course of the next 15 years, RenewAustralia will fund projects worth around $1 billion, according to the Greens.
