AUGUST 5, 2022 – Minister for Climate Change Chris Bowen today made the following announcement:
“The next zone that I intend and expect to be consulting on is offshore wind in the Pacific region off the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, and then off the Illawarra, the Pacific Ocean region of Portland in Victoria… and Bunbury, of course, in Western Australia…This is good news for these communities.
"Offshore wind will create a lot of jobs. Offshore wind turbines need a lot of maintenance, they need ships to maintain them, ports to keep them operating. This is good news for the jobs, for the environment, for emissions reduction and good news for Australia. This is our next step on towards the 80% renewable energy market.”
The AMWU welcomes this Government initiative to place Australia at the forefront of global renewables.
We also call on the Government to uphold their pre-election commitment to manufacturing jobs by ensuring all wind farming infrastructure is Australian-made, creating skilled workforces, long-term sustainable jobs and training.
Accessible training must be prioritised for workers in traditional forms of power generation and its related industries, to ensure our communities will benefit and prosper.
Quotes attributable to Cory Wright, State Secretary AMWU NSW & ACT:
“Today’s announcement for offshore wind zones signals huge opportunities for the NSW
manufacturing industry.
“Australia could become a global offshore wind superpower, creating a long-term
sustainable manufacturing industry, and a jobs boom here in NSW.
“Training should be prioritised to ensure local workers are positioned for long-term
sustainable jobs and Australian industry is capable of maximising opportunities from the shift
to renewables.
“By actively ensuring towers and turbines are produced locally, the environmental benefits
would be amplified by delivering economic and social outcomes.”
ENDS
Media contact: Linda Leman | 0418 777 683