PM takes carbon sell to anxious coal workers

Updated July 16, 2011 16:55:10

Trade union leaders have told Prime Minister Julia Gillard that coal workers in Victoria's Latrobe Valley are extremely anxious about how the carbon tax will affect jobs and the community.

Ms Gillard today toured the Hazelwood power station, one of the nation's dirtiest coal fired power stations, at Morwell in the state's east.

With the Latrobe Valley set to feel the biggest impact from the carbon tax plan, locals had called for Ms Gillard to personally explain the package to them.

Ms Gillard told residents she understands why they are anxious about the impact of the carbon tax package, but believes the region has a strong future.

She said the Government would be working alongside communities through the process.
"I am very confident that the Latrobe Valley has a bright future," she said.

Ms Gillard said the workers asked some hard questions as she explained the package away from the glare of the media.

"There's a lot of anxiety there and that's why I'm here to talk issues through with people, to be there directly available to have a conversation," she told reporters on Saturday.

The union leaders also told the Prime Minister that the Hazelwood workers deserve a fair share of the Government's compensation package and she should look after them.

Part of the Government's clean energy package includes closing some power stations, with Hazelwood thought to be at the top of the list.

Ms Gillard was unable to say if any Latrobe Valley power station would definitely close, saying it had to go through a tender process and any closure would take a number of years.

The Federal Government has previously accused the Greens and environment groups of stoking fears about an imminent closure of Hazelwood. It says there will not be any sudden plant closures under the carbon tax.

Hazelwood employs more than 800 workers and produces about 1600 megawatts of electricity - about 25 per cent of Victoria's power supply.

ABC/AAP

Topics: climate-change, coal, federal-government, morwell-3840

First posted July 16, 2011 16:21:48

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-16/gillard-visits-latrobe-valley/2797262

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