The Hunter Jobs Alliance has backed a proposal from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union calling on the state government to convene a Hunter Jobs Summit, following the loss of nearly 9,000 jobs across the region over the past five years. Key sectors affected include manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and utilities.
HJA coordinator Justin Page said a summit could strengthen the work of the Hunter Worker Transition Advisory Group. “A summit would help get the message out to industries that we need to work collectively to create and support jobs,” he said. The Alliance emphasises that while initiatives like the Future Jobs and Investment Authority and the Hunter Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone are positive steps, gaps remain in planning and urgency from governments to ensure workers and communities are fully supported through the transition to new industries.