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The Victorian Greens have pledged to fight for coal-fired power stations to close by 2030, and for affected workers to continue to be paid wages.
Key points:
- The Victorian Greens say they will push for legislation to close the state's coal-fired plants by 2030
- They also want the government to subsidise affected workers' income to ensure they continue to be paid the same amount in any new job
- They say this would be paid for by doubling the royalties paid by gas and oil companies
Ahead of this month's state election, the minor party has unveiled its plan for climate and energy, with a goal of running Victoria on 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030, through a $10 billion spend on improving energy generation, storage and grid upgrades.
As coal-fired power stations shut, the party says it will also push for a "job-for-job" guarantee to ensure workers are paid the same income in any new job they secure outside the sector.
The Greens want workers who are unable to find a job to receive an equivalent income from the government for 10 years, and workers over the age of 55 who choose to retire to continue to receive their annual income until they reach pension age.
Deputy Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell said the scheme would be paid for by doubling royalties on coal and gas mining, which the Parliamentary Budget Office estimated to be $214 million over forward estimates.
"We all know that coal is coming to its end in Victoria — we want to make sure that communities and workers are looked after," Ms Sandell said.
"This means we can transition to renewable energy, which is what we know we need for climate change, but also look after all the people who have made Victoria prosperous."
Union uncertain
Gippsland Trades and Labor Council secretary Steve Dodd however said while many workers would be happy to receive the same pay, he questioned whether the scheme was viable.
He said the Greens should have done more consultation with local unions.
"It sounds like a farfetched idea to me," he said.
"I think the Greens … should have come down and talked to people, the community and unions before dreaming up these weird schemes.
"The Greens have got this view about transitioning now, but where were they when Hazelwood shut? When Yallourn shut? How involved were they then?"
Renewable manufacturing
The Greens are also pushing for a revival in Victorian manufacturing through renewables, and supporting industries to build heat pumps, solar panels and wind turbines in Victoria.
Ms Sandell said they want some of these new manufacturing industries to be located in the Latrobe Valley, where some communities had been historically reliant on coal-fired power stations.
"It just makes sense to locate some of that new manufacturing in places like the Latrobe Valley that need the jobs but also have the skills and experience for that manufacturing," she said.
The Greens say they will fight for $902 million to buy the Portland aluminium smelter to produce aluminium with renewable energy, and to building three publicly owned solar-panel recycling and manufacturing plants, including one in the Latrobe Valley.
They will also push for $190 million in grants for businesses to upgrade their energy systems away from gas, and for legislation to end native forest logging by 2023.
The party wants to reach net zero emissions by 2035.
Labor has promised to reach 95 per cent renewable energy by 2035, and net zero emissions by 2045.
The state opposition has promised to legislate a target of 50 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030.
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