Victorian Nationals: Early Closure of AGL’s Loy Yang A Power Station

“Latrobe Valley has a proud history of powering Victoria and Loy Yang A’s early closure announcement by mid-2035 has an impact on two major fronts:

• the workers, their families & the broader community
• the ability of the region to establish replacement – renewable power generation and the transmission infrastructure needed to connect this power to the grid.

Loy Yang A powers about 30% of the state power generation, while its mine supplies 50 per cent of state power.

Supporting and respecting workers and their families over the coming decade should be the priority for AGL and by all levels of government – it is essential new local industries are established with quality like for like jobs.

It’s been five years since Hazelwood closure and the subsequent establishment of Latrobe Valley Authority (LVA) by Labor to transition Latrobe Valley and workers.

The community is yet to see a plan from the LVA. Its only community report was issued in 2019.

The Valley needs new industries with new technologies and the creation long term, sustainable jobs for our high skilled, technical workforce is a priority for The Nationals.

If past performance is an indicator of future outcomes, the Andrews Labor Government lacks the ability to fully support workers, genuinely work with industry to create new technologies and develop a pathway that is affordable and reliable in time.

My focus will remain on supporting people, our community and industry – so that our power station workers can have the opportunity to shape a bright and secure future.”