On Thursday, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton visited Port Stephens and delivered what can only be described as a slap in the face to local workers.
If elected, he announced, his government would scrap Hunter offshore wind, abandoning one of the region’s most critical opportunities for a just transition that offers traditional power workers the quality, secure jobs they deserve.
Instead, the Coalition plans to funnel its focus—and half a trillion taxpayer dollars—towards nuclear energy. These nuclear power plants would take decades to build and pose an enormous cost to working people, all while leaving renewable energy projects on the chopping block.
Under Dutton’s plan, wind turbines 35 kilometres out from the coast of Newcastle would make way for a nuclear power plant in Muswellbrook, notably the site of three earthquakes and more than 50 aftershocks since just August.
The ramifications of this decision for local workers would be staggering.
Scrapping Hunter offshore wind doesn’t just eliminate tens of thousands of jobs; it obliterates a chance for our local communities to thrive as the energy sector transitions.
These jobs, directly and indirectly created by Hunter offshore wind, could be the golden ticket for a just transition. 70% of traditional power workers already possess the core skills needed to step into the offshore wind industry. Labor’s Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence could further skill up these workers, ensuring smooth and successful career transitions.
Hunter Workers strongly supports Hunter offshore wind because we hear what workers and scientists across the region are telling us. Offshore wind is a precious chance to secure economic prosperity for generations to come, while supplying our homes and businesses with affordable, reliable power that meets our growing energy needs and protects our local environment.
But Peter Dutton’s nuclear plan threatens our jobs, our communities and our future. His proposal would leave local workers in limbo as coal plants retire, jobs are lost, and the region’s economy stagnates.
Nuclear energy and solar are incompatible on the grid, meaning that other renewable projects would need to be forcibly displaced to ensure viability of nuclear. This would even further stall economic growth and delay job creation in our region.
Yet the payoff for our investment into nuclear would be negligible; according to the Smart Energy Council, nuclear energy would supply just 3.7% of Australia’s energy mix. According to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, electricity under Dutton’s nuclear scheme could cost nearly four times more than renewables.
Additionally, more than three million households would be forced by a Coalition government to shut down their household solar to keep nuclear financially viable.
Yet Dutton is more than willing to sacrifice the Hunter region’s future prosperity and stability for this costly and ineffective plan.
The Coalition’s proposal doesn’t just ignore the science—it openly misleads the public.
In their announcement targeting Hunter offshore wind, they parroted discredited talking points drawn from anti-offshore wind propaganda.
This is part of a broader pattern: the Coalition has spent months spreading misinformation about nuclear energy, blatantly disregarding scientific consensus. Now they’re embracing offshore wind disinformation, too.
These narratives are being fuelled by lobbyists and amplified by international actors like Russia, whose interests lie in prolonging global reliance on traditional energy sources.
The Coalition’s embrace of these misleading narratives shows a blatant disregard for the interests of workers.
Hunter workers and our communities deserve honesty and leadership that prioritises our future.
Offshore wind represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and combat climate change. It’s a lifeline for traditional power workers and a pathway to long-term regional prosperity.
Peter Dutton’s nuclear proposal, on the other hand, risks leaving the Hunter region in an economic void. It sacrifices workers’ livelihoods and burdens taxpayers with skyrocketing costs, all for an energy source that fails to deliver on its promises.
Ensuring a just transition for the Hunter region requires collaboration, integrity, and a commitment to science and expert-backed solutions.
The Coalition’s willingness to mislead workers starkly shows that Peter Dutton’s priorities are not about securing the future of our communities.
Hunter workers deserve better.
Our future is under threat, and we cannot risk a Dutton Coalition government.