Alison Byrnes MP

Member for Cunningham

Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes MP pushed the Illawarra as a critical location for Australia’s renewable energy future at yesterday’s National Climate and Energy Jobs Summit hosted by Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen at Parliament House.

The Summit brought together stakeholders to help deliver the secure and green jobs of today and tomorrow.

As Australia becomes a renewable energy superpower, regional Australia could see a jobs boom. Independent modelling of Labor’s Powering Australia Plan shows that 600,000 jobs can be created by 2030, with five out of every six jobs being in the regions. In addition to growing jobs, the government will provide $100 million to support 10,000 New Energy Apprenticeships.

Ms Byrnes attended the Canberra summit with other Illawarra representatives, Co-convener of Recharge Illawarra, Arthur Rorris and Director of the Energy Futures Network, Ty Christopher.

The Illawarra delegation attended to share our region’s potential for growing renewable energy jobs and manufacturing while helping to reduce emissions.

Ms Byrnes has secured $10 million for an Energy Futures Skills Centre at the University of Wollongong, $2.5 million for a Renewable Energy Training facility at Wollongong TAFE, a community solar battery for Warrawong, and had Wollongong nominated as one of six offshore wind energy zones.

The mini summit will feed into the Prime Minister’s Jobs and Skills summit on 1 and 2 September which will bring together unions, employers, civil society and governments to address our greatest economic challenges.

Quotes attributable to Alison Byrnes, Member for Cunningham:

“Yesterday’s summit was a great opportunity to put the Illawarra’s case for jobs and investment in new and existing industries."

“As a region we are ready, our industries are ready and I will continue to use the skills and expertise in renewable energy in our region to help not only generate energy but to generate jobs and opportunities.”