For media enquires, please contact:
Justin Page HJA Co-ordinator: [email protected]
‘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/
July 30th, 2025
Origin Energy goes it alone as Eraring closure date looms
Origin Energy is seeking to exempt itself from the federally backed Energy Industry Jobs Plan (EIJP) for Eraring workers, claiming its own Future Directions program is sufficient. However, the Hunter Jobs Alliance has identified major gaps in Origin’s program, including inadequate support for contractors and new employees, and a lack of community transition planning. “If the Energy Industry Jobs Plan is to be credible, it must apply to every major closure with independent oversight, worker voice, and public transparency. It is not a matter of corporate preference,” said Hunter Jobs Alliance Coordinator Justin Page.
Full article: https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/9028002/origin-energy-seeks-to-exemption-from-energy-industry-jobs-plan-for-eraring/
June 17th, 2025
Minister says no to more offshore wind projects in Hunter zone
The Hunter Jobs Alliance, with 24 local union environment and community groups, have sent a joint letter to Ministers Bowen, Minns, and Sharpe calling for feasibility licences and policies to unlock the full 5GW potential of the Hunter Offshore Wind Zone — to secure lasting jobs, clean energy, and a stronger regional economy.
“Unlocking the full potential of offshore wind in the Hunter means scaling beyond one project. We need a pipeline of coordinated developments to deliver lasting employment, skills growth, and economic resilience for the region,” the letter states.
Full article: https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/8992774/chris-bowen-rules-out-new-projects-in-hunter-offshore-wind-zone/
May 28th, 2025
Tangible support: Origin to highlight its programs to support Eraring workers
The Hunter Jobs Alliance welcomes the Net Zero Authority’s consultation on support for workers affected by the planned 2027 closure of Eraring, Australia’s largest coal power station near Lake Macquarie. The closure will directly impact over 200 workers, with many more in local supply chains also at risk. As HJA’s Justin Page says: “While the impacts on the direct workforces of Eraring and Centennial are more easily identified, HJA highlights the urgent need to map and address the broader flow-on effects across the supply chains and the region’s industrial ecosystem”.