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Parliamentary Contribution - Hazelwood closureIn 51 days Hazelwood Power Station will close its doors and the impact on many workers, contractors, businesses and local families will be simply devastating. By Portal Admin - 8th February 2017 - Back to News The reality has really set in for those who have already lost their job, and those who are about to lose their jobs. Many causal staff of contractors who provided their services to Hazelwood have not had work for weeks and this will be compounded further when they are joined by hundreds of other permanent and casual workers who won’t have a job on 1 April.
There is a real sense of anger and frustration within the Latrobe Valley community right now.
To close this station within 5 months is a bitter pill to swallow for so many that will be left with substantial financial commitments and no job.
The fact that the State Government just last year imposed an additional $252 million of taxes on Latrobe Valley generators just defies logic and belief. The same Government then paint themselves as saviours by providing a "rescue package" of nearly the same amount of money. Talk about Taketh on the one hand and giveth on the other!
We know the Labor Party wanted to close Hazelwood and they promised it would be a gradual closure but we are not even getting that!
Workers, contractors and local businesses believe there are two key initiatives that must be adopted – close Hazelwood gradually and implement a "pooled redundancy" scheme for workers.
Anything less will lead to the loss of thousands of jobs, energy security in Victoria threatened and the cost of electricity going through the roof for home owners and businesses – and that is bad news for all Victorians.
Tayla Leek| Electorate Officer
Office of Russell Northe MLA
Member for Morwell
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: support@gippsland.com
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