Greens in Hunter announce jobs plan
Today NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon will join Greens second Senate candidate Michael Osborne, Senate candidate Jane Oakley, candidate for Newcastle Dr John Mackenzie and candidate for Paterson John Brown to launch The Greens Jobs Rich Plan for the Hunter.
Senator Rhiannon said, "the Greens seven-point plan covers the gradual phasing out of coal fired power stations and associated coal mines, working to end the export of coal, creating the Hunter as the hub of renewable energy, supporting the expansion of TAFE, legislating to require all levels of government to purchase their needs from local sources first.
"The world is turning its back on the coal industry. People are losing their jobs and leaving the Hunter. Our jobs plan will help the transition away from coal fired power and coal mining while still ensuring a highly skilled Hunter community.
"As a resident of Newcastle, I have lived experience of what the community is dealing with in the terminal decline of coal and gas mining in the Hunter," said Newcastle candidate Dr Mackenzie.
"Newcastle is in a good position to take advantage of a transition to renewable energy because we have a strong industrial base and research, training and development organisations including the Newcastle CSIRO and Hunter TAFE.
"The Greens are committed to income support for retrenched and redundant coal workers and the support at the regional level to ensure a jobs-rich future for the Hunter," said Dr Mackenzie.
"The Hunter has great potential sources of renewable energy - solar, wind and biomass. The skills and industries needed to develop, build, install and maintain this infrastructure will create thousands of sustainable jobs," said Greens Senate candidate Michael Osborne.
"That's why we need the Federal Government to invest in TAFE, universities and the CSIRO and have the right policies for a renewable energy target of 90% by 2030," said Mr Obsborne.
Click here to download The Greens Jobs Rich Plan for the Hunter.
Media contact:
Lee Rhiannon (Brami Jegan) 0433 054 712
Michael Osborne 0439 442 984
John Mackenzie 0405 433 550