Wednesday, 22 June 2022

Economy and Infrastructure Committee

Inquiry into the Closure of the Hazelwood and Yallourn Power Stations

Ms BATH (Eastern Victoria) (17:24): I am really pleased this afternoon in statements on reports to talk about the inquiry of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee into the closure of Hazelwood and Yallourn power stations and the report card on the Latrobe Valley Authority. This was an inquiry that I led and put to the house, and I thank all the members of the house that voted in favour of this inquiry to do a deep dive into the opinions, the considerations, the experience and the understanding of businesses, industry and community groups in the Latrobe Valley to help determine their future and their prosperity with the massive changes that are occurring with the closure of Hazelwood first and then, we now understand, Yallourn power station in 2028. This was an inquiry that the government voted against but that went on anyway, and the report was then heavily based around government MPs—basically nicely stacked. That is life.

But let me give you a compare and contrast on just a couple of the recommendations from the committee report—from the Labor MP report versus the minority report that I wrote on behalf of The Nationals and the Liberals. Recommendation 2 relates to both the worker transition service and the worker transfer scheme. To quote the Latrobe City Council’s submission to this inquiry:

However, without sufficient published data, there has been significant community doubt as to the effectiveness of some of these programs …

worker transition service included. The now passed on and very much respected CFMEU Victorian secretary Mr Geoff Dyke, who I had the pleasure of meeting on a number of occasions, talked about other things, including:

… the worker transfer scheme that we trialled for Hazelwood. That was partially successful. We got 90 young employee’s jobs at the newer power stations and retired 90 …

Our data suggests that we could have transferred up to 200 workers, or over 200 workers, and the scheme promised … 150 …

so 90 compared to 150. On those two particular topics this is what the government recommendation came up with—stay tuned:

That the Latrobe Valley Authority, in partnership with other agencies and Departments within the Victorian Government (including but not necessarily limited to Regional Development Victoria and the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions), consolidate an analysis—

are you ready for that?—

of the outcomes of the Worker Transition Service, and the ways in which this work can apply to future worker transition supports. This analysis should include the extent to which affected workers’ needs and priorities have been, or are able to be, met.

Here is my contrast:

That the Victorian Auditor General’s Office (VAGO) be asked to conduct an investigation into the effectiveness of the Worker Transition Service … and recommend ways to improve—

the worker transitional service—

… including the appropriate organisation to manage the transition services …

and including also the worker transfer scheme.

This analysis should include the extent to which affected workers’ needs and priorities have been or are able to be met …

in the future. Notice the difference here. One is an internal review by government and government departments. It is an internal assessment of ‘How do you think we went?’. The Latrobe City Council is saying there is insufficient published data around this, but the government wants to report on itself. I am going to this week write to the Auditor-General and ask that they consider investigating the effectiveness. The Auditor-General is there to look at the public sector, how the efficiencies run, how the transparency is and how best any future scheme can meet the needs of the population it is there to serve—rather than an internal assessment.

The final one that just gets me to the core is recommendation 8:

That the Latrobe Valley Authority identify gaps in community awareness of its work and continue to address these gaps or misunderstandings …

My recommendation, by contrast, is that the Latrobe Valley Authority:

… focus on delivering effective transition … outcomes and not spend any of the 2022–23 Budget … of $7.5 million on self-promotion …

(Time expired)