Secure Future for the Valley

Valley Workers Have a Right to a Sustainable Future

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"The people of the Latrobe Valley deserve a secure future. That's a future based on renewable energy and a reinvigorated manufacturing industry", said Samantha Dunn, Greens Upper House Candidate for Eastern Victoria at a community action outside Hazelwood Power Station today.

The people of Victoria have shown that they want to see a transition from coal fired power to renewable energy, hundreds of people came out to Hazelwood Power Station today to show the government they want change.

"What we need is a transition plan out of old fossil fuel technologies to a bright new and secure future manufacturing and the renewable energy sector", said Samantha.

Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, who addressed the rally said “hundreds of people have gathered here today because the old political parties have failed to act. This filthy dinosaur was meant to have been shut down in 2005.

Instead of the clean jobs transition so desperately needed in the Latrobe Valley it has been licensed to pollute till 2031."

Samantha said “Victoria is very well placed to develop a renewable energy sector, we already have a heavy industry manufacturing region in the Latrobe Valley with infrastructure already in place, it is time to revitalise this region of Victoria.

The privatisation of power industry has seen the gradual decline in employment in the valley, few apprenticeship opportunities for young people, no skilling up of our future generation and a region that is struggling to retain its viability and vibrancy as a community.

Without The Greens insisting on serious government intervention and changes to policy and regulation a sustainable Victoria won't happen. The Greens are committed to a renewable energy future and revitalising Victoria as a hub of renewable manufacturing.

The fundamental driver to all of this is a commitment to real targets to start to reverse our ever increasing greenhouse gas emissions. It is the Greens who are committed to targets that will drive changes across our economy and save the planet.

Transitioning to green jobs will see expansion in education and training, manufacturing, construction and public administration. That's a lot of employment opportunities across a range of sectors, that's a bright future for Victorians who want a job to secure their prospects and who want to actively participate in doing something to reverse global warming.

It is the Greens who have the political will to see it happen, securing a sustainable and just future for all Victorians."