2016/17: Is the closure of the Hazelwood power station being properly handled by State and federal governments?
Introduction to the media issue
Video clip at right:On November 2, 2016, ABC News ran a news report on the imminent closure of the Hazelwood power station and its possible effects. If you cannot see this clip, it will be because video is blocked by your network. To view the clip, access from home or from a public library, or from another network which allows viewing of video clips.
What they said...
'Australia's distinct lack of any credible climate policy or national energy plan to phase out the old and invest in the new, has left us at the whims of the market. It's time for the Federal government and states to work together on a plan to clean up our power supply and support affected communities'
Mark Wakeham, chief executive officer of Environment Victoria
'I want to make it very clear to every single member of the Latrobe Valley community, every business, every family, every individual, we will be there to stand with you and work with you to get through these challenges and to do the best we can to make sure that the Latrobe Valley is stronger than it has ever been'
Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria
The issue at a glance
On November 3, 2016, the French energy company, Engie, which is the principal owner and operator of the Hazelwood power station in the Latrobe Valley, announced that the station would cease operation on March 30, 2017.
The announcement met with immediate criticism of the actions and policies of the Victorian Labor government, lead by Daniel Andrews, and to a less extent, of those of the federal government, led by Malcolm Turnbull.
Both were accused of relative inaction and a lack of foresight. Depending on the perspective of the critic, some also condemned the Andrews government for promoting renewable energy generation to the detriment of coal-fired operations.
Both governments argued that the closure of Hazelwood was an independent decision taken by a private operator. Each government has also defended the actions it has taken to ease the situation of power workers who will lose their jobs as a result of the closure.