Campaign for National Transition Authority ramps up
4 May 2023
In the lead up to the federal budget being handed down in
May, energy members have stepped up our campaign for a National Energy
Transition Authority.
Workers and communities that currently rely on
heavy-polluting power stations for employment, need a national tripartite
authority that will oversee Australia's transition to a net-zero economy.
We need all levels of government working together on this.
And we need government, energy companies and unions around
the same table, working together on this transition.
Last week ASU members working at Torrens Island Power
Station took action - along with energy workers in the Hunter and Latrobe
Valleys - sending a message of solidarity to the workers at the Liddell Power
Station that closed on Friday April 28.
A group of Operators from Torrens Island were joined by ASU
Secretary Abbie Spencer, ASU Assistant Secretary Scott Cowen, ASU Lead
Organiser Dan Spencer alongside SA Unions Secretary Dale Beasley and the rest
of the Torrens Island unions to lobby SA Labor Senator Karen Grogan, and
federal Member for Makin Tony Zappia about the critical need for a national body
to oversee the transition away from heavy-polluting energy generation.
This comes on the back of a trip to Canberra in March by ASU
Workplace Rep Paul Glatter, who joined a national delegation of union members
for a day of meetings at Parliament House.
Our Parliament House delegation also included ASU National
Secretary Rob Potter, ASU Assistant Secretary Scott Cowen, and ASU Organising
Lead Dan Spencer.
The delegation met the Minister for Minister for Energy
Chris Bowen, and the Minister for Industrial Relations Tony Bourke, Members of
Parliament and key cross bench Senators.
OUR MESSAGE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CLEAR
We need a tripartite authority that supports workers through
comprehensive packages that include pooled redundancy and employment schemes,
education, training, income replacement and retirement plans.
The ASU wants the Albanese Government to announce a National
Energy Transition Authority in its federal budget due to be handed down next
week.