The Latrobe Valley has been snubbed again by the Allan Labor Government, with an announcement the first 100 per cent government-owned renewable energy project will be built in Horsham, despite a promise the State Electricity Commission would be brought back to Morwell.
The Nationals’ Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, labelled the decision “disgraceful”, and said the 250 jobs associated with the new solar farm slated for Horsham should have been prioritised for the Valley.
“It is gobsmacking and extremely disappointing that Labor hasn’t considered the desperate need for investment in the Valley when making this decision,” Mr Cameron said.
“It’s here where the accelerated closure of coal-fired power stations will be felt, and it’s here where thousands of jobs will be lost in the transition to renewables.
“Hazelwood shut in 2017, Yallourn will shut in 2028, Loy Yang A will shut in 2032, and Loy Yang B will follow later that decade, yet there is no urgency from Labor to establish new industries in the Valley.
“The deceptive promise the SEC would be ‘brought back to Morwell’ and create some 59,000 jobs reeks of a government weaponising the issue of employment in a grab for votes.
“All the SEC has delivered here in Morwell is one part-time employee at the pre-existing GovHub.”
“Despite all the spin, and some $300 million that was given to the Latrobe Valley Authority to lead the region through a ‘just transition’, jobs in the Latrobe local government area have shrunk by 8% in the last 11 years.*
“Here in the Latrobe Valley, where we have powered the state for a century, we have the know-how and infrastructure to lead Victoria through another 100 years of power generation, but we need real leadership from a state government that is prepared to take sensible and decisive action.
“The coal-to-hydrogen project, which has gained the commercial support of the Japanese Government to the tune of $2 billion, is perfectly suited to our highly-skilled workforce, existing energy infrastructure and resources.
“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to achieve the significant economic and emission reduction benefits that commercial projects like this will deliver, and we can do it right here in the Latrobe Valley.
“Labor can no longer neglect the Latrobe Valley. We need investment in new industries, and we need it now.”
