BANDT SLAMS GOVERNMENT OVER HAZELWOOD

University assignment —  5/6/17

Text: Will Watson

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Greens MP Adam Bandt hit out at state and federal governments yesterday, for not being more prepared for the closure of the Hazelwood power station.

In the Latrobe Valley for a series of community consultations, Mr Bandt, the Greens energy spokesman, said governments had not acted quickly enough because closure decisions were being made by foreign owners.

Speaking in Traralgon, he said the creation of a national transition authority was essential and well overdue. 

“It is important to learn from the mistakes of Hazelwood,” Mr Bandt said.

“We think there has been a big underestimation of what is required for a successful transition. We think about $1 billion is needed,” he said. 

Mr Bandt said he was visiting the region to hear what locals wanted the Greens to argue for on their behalf in Canberra.

Andrew McCarthy, managing director of Gippsland Solar Ltd, said it was good Mr Bandt had come to listen.

But he said the Greens would not win friends in the region if they continued to declare the closure of a power station was a success, especially when so many locals had lost jobs.

“Many people in the Valley feel the Greens have rubbed their noses in it and it is not helpful in the long run,” Mr McCarthy said. 

“My business is intrinsically linked to Greens policies on renewables and they need to be more supportive of the community if they want real impact,” he said.

Rosemary Cousin, co-owner of Grand Ridge Organics in Allambee South, said there should be a wider range of jobs under consideration in transition planning.

“We shouldn’t be just looking at one big thing for the Valley,” Ms Cousin said.

“We need a pivotal movement, away from old ways of thinking, to transition economy. There are many things that could be done, but it is just not happening,” she said.

Mr Bandt said while a range of new industries could be attracted to the region, he believed power generation by renewables would be viable because the LaTrobe Valley still had major transmission infrastructure.

“There needs to be willingness to recognise the changes. The head in the sand approach must end,” he said.