Australia is in the midst of an energy transition, not only with the shift to renewables but with the rise of electric vehicles and decline of gas in homes. This transition is happening against a backdrop of global and domestic net zero emissions policy, coal fired power station closures, availability of lower priced energy sources and massive changes to how our energy system works. All of this is impacting and will continue to impact ETU members.
And the ETU has been working hard to ensure that this transition provides good, well paid secure jobs for our members.
However, Peter Dutton and the Coalition wanted nuclear power to have a role in Australia’s energy transition. This is despite the Liberal Party having been in power for 64% of the time since the first commercial reactor was switched on.
At the ballot box at this Federal election, ETU members stood up and stood against Dutton and his nuclear fantasy. Peter Dutton’s push to send Australia nuclear was flatly rejected, as was his taking for granted of working-class men. That rejection going as far as Dutton losing his own seat.
The ETU’s anti-nuclear campaign, along with the MUA and Plumbers’ Union asked the simple question – Why? Why nuclear when all the facts stack up that it’s not a viable option for our energy future. And the country answered – no, we don’t want this nuclear pipe- dream, we want real progress, real action and real answers.
It now falls to the Albanese Government to make sure the energy transition is built, and the lights stay on.
The only way this transition will be built will be on the back of electrical trade workers. This transition needs to be built with good, well paid, safe union jobs.
The ETU will always stand up and defend our license, our jobs and our trades. We will stand up to any Government or politician threatening our jobs, our license or our trades. And will always fight to ensure no worker is left behind.