For media enquires, please contact:
Justin Page HJA Co-ordinator: [email protected]
Support for thousands of workers affected by the closure of Eraring power station
The Net Zero Economy Authority has recommended establishing an Energy Industry Jobs Plan ahead of the closure of Eraring Power Station in 2029. If approved by the Fair Work Commission, the plan would ensure workers on site and in the affected supply chain can access formal transition supports. As well as the 220 workers directly employed at Eraring, there are another 200 contractors on site and up to 1,400 workers across supply chain businesses, including at Myuna Colliery.
Hunter Jobs Alliance welcomes the recommendation and says it’s essential that supply chain workers are included, as they are just as exposed to the impacts of the closure but too often miss out on support. “This process will help ensure all workers employed by businesses named in the determination have access to structured, enforceable transition support,” – Coordinator Justin Page.
March 24th, 2026
The Hunter has sent coal to South Korea for decades. Now, a delegation is here to plan a new green energy future
The Hunter region, long tied to South Korea’s coal-driven growth, is now facing a major clean energy transition as both local and international pressures push decarbonisation. A recent visit from South Korea’s Solutions for Our Climate delegation highlighted global interest in how Australia is shifting towards renewable energy and moving away from new coal projects.
Hunter Jobs Alliance coordinator Justin Page says, “Newcastle has potential as a green fuel production hub that will export to Korea,” highlighting the region’s role in a global low-carbon economy and the opportunities this transition presents for local workers, industries, and communities.
February 23rd, 2026
Coal miners dudded by ‘inferior’ transition help
Thousands of export coal workers in the Hunter risk missing out on federal support to retrain as demand for coal declines, with mine closures potentially displacing over 12,000 workers. Hunter Jobs Alliance supports expanding the Energy Industry Jobs Plan to include export miners, ensuring they receive the same upskilling and career transition assistance as power station employees. This will help prevent a “two-tier” system and support communities through the region’s energy transition.
Full article: https://michaelwest.com.au/coal-miners-dudded-by-inferior-transition-help/
December 12th, 2025
‘We’ve got your back’: PM visits Tomago to announce good progress on deal to secure plant’s future
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a multibillion-dollar deal is being finalised to keep Tomago Aluminium operating beyond 2028, securing thousands of Hunter jobs. The agreement, being developed with the NSW Government and Snowy Hydro, would underpin a long-term renewable energy supply to meet the smelter’s significant power needs, with a formal deal expected in the new year.
Hunter Jobs Alliance spokesperson Justin Page said the announcement showed the power of practical collaboration. “Securing Tomago’s future protects local jobs, strengthens supply chains and keeps advanced manufacturing in the Hunter,” he said. “This outcome proves that when governments, unions, industry and communities work together, we can move past the culture wars and deliver solutions that secure the region’s future.”
Full article: https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/9132423/pm-says-talks-to-secure-tomago-aluminium-smelters-future-are-moving-forward/
December 9th, 2025
9000 jobs lost in five years: union calls for action on Hunter employment
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.
Full article: https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/9127712/hunter-union-calls-on-state-government-to-convene-regional-jobs-summit/
November 19th, 2025
‘Let’s get it done’: poll shows what Hunter voters want governments to invest in
New polling shows Hunter residents are leading national support for clean-energy powered manufacturing, with 72% backing government investment to help manufacturers like Tomago Aluminium access affordable electricity. The federal government is considering a scheme financial vehicle (SFV), which would allow Tomago to access stable, competitively priced electricity from renewable sources as its current contract ends in 2028. Justin Page, coordinator at Hunter Jobs Alliance, said: “People understand that securing our manufacturing jobs and keeping key assets like Tomago competitive depends on having reliable, cost-effective electricity.”
Full article: https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/9114204/hunter-residents-support-renewable-energy-investments-for-manufacturing/
November 14th, 2025
Energy wars go local
Recent Senate inquiry hearings have highlighted the impact of misinformation on local energy projects across NSW. Community members shared experiences of projects being blocked or delayed, threats to personal safety, and confusion caused by conflicting information about renewable energy initiatives. Examples included community batteries and other local energy projects where miscommunication or council delays created space for misinformation to spread.
Hunter Jobs Alliance coordinator Justin Page said the closures of coal-fired power stations mean people need reliable guidance on alternatives. “People didn’t trust the government or the proponents, and that lack of information created space for mis- and disinformation to thrive,” he said. The Alliance supports initiatives like RE-Alliance’s local energy hubs to provide communities with clear, trusted information as the region transitions to new energy sources.
Full article: https://theenergy.co/article/energy-wars-go-local
August 22nd, 2025
Equinor scraps Hunter offshore wind project amid global woes
The decision by Equinor to withdraw from the Novocastrian Offshore Wind project is a setback for the Hunter’s clean energy transition and local job creation. However, the federal government’s commitment to research and development licences in the Hunter Offshore Wind Zone offers a vital opportunity to build regional capacity and prove new technologies. “With this setback comes opportunity,” said Hunter Jobs Alliance coordinator Justin Page, “The government’s R&D pathway allows the Hunter to assess and build capacity to host multiple large-scale offshore wind projects.”
Full article: https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/9046907/equinor-scraps-hunter-offshore-wind-project-amid-global-woes/