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Council calls for community-led transition in its submission to Senate InquiryLatrobe City Council has called on governments at all levels to put the community first, in its submission to the Senate Inquiry into Coal Power Station Closures. By Portal Admin - 22nd November 2016 - Back to News Latrobe City Council has called on governments at all levels to put the community first, in its submission to the Senate Inquiry into Coal Power Station Closures. The paper, to be formally adopted at a Council meeting on 5 December, will be submitted on 10 December.
Latrobe City Council’s mayor, Councillor Kellie O’Callaghan, said that Latrobe Valley should be the epicentre for all transition efforts.
"Our first through must always be for the health, wellbeing and prosperity of our community. If 750 jobs are to leave this community then all levels of government need to be determined to return 750, well-paid, long-term sustainable jobs to our community.
"There is no escaping the fact that the impacts and anxiety of privatisation is never far from our minds and it is fair to say that there is a level of fear that this will again be our lived experience.
"Our community regularly describe living here pre-privatisation and post-privatisation we would hate for the next generation to be in a position where they describe living here as pre-Hazelwood and post-Hazelwood.
"Respecting this history of our post-privatisation lives experiencing and being determined to deliver a just, dignified and place based transition must be at the driving mantra of all transition efforts.
"There is no escaping the fact that electricity is the major component of our economy and that this industry is already in decline.
"Our economy needs to grow by $30 to $40 million dollars a year just to remain on an even keel.
"The Latrobe Valley, Victoria and Australia need stable institutional arrangements, enshrined in legislation to carry out an effective community centred transition.
"We can’t realise the benefits and the important social assets of our community until all stakeholders and political parties achieve long-term, stable bipartisan agreement on those matters," Cr O’Callaghan said.
"Our submission to the Senate Inquiry was clear in its aim. Put our community front and centre, make decisions with us, not for us. And don’t forget that the Latrobe Valley is, and always has been, the state’s powerhouse, and can be for many years to come," Cr O’Callaghan concluded.
Media Enquiries:
Cr Kellie O’Callaghan, Latrobe City Mayor
Telephone: 0400 696 324
Cr Graeme Middlemiss, Latrobe City Deputy Mayor
Telephone: 0417 379 059
Media Relations Office
Telephone: 5128 5458
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: support@gippsland.com
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