We explain our role in the Energy Industry Jobs Plan, which supports the workforce to transition to new employment when a coal-fired or gas-fired power station closes. If we approve, the Energy Industry Jobs Plan is administered by the Net Zero Economy Authority.
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Most of Australia’s coal-fired power stations and some gas-fired power stations have announced planned closure dates. This transition will have significant impacts for employees and regional communities.
The Net Zero Economy Authority Act 2024 (Cth) (NZEA Act) introduced the Energy Industry Jobs Plan, which supports employees working in
to transition to new employment, if this is needed.
If the Energy Industry Jobs Plan is in place for a particular power station closure, eligible employees (‘transition employees’) will be able to access support from their employers (including both ‘closing employers’ and ‘dependent employers’) to access new job opportunities. Employees will be linked with other employers in the region (‘receiving employers’), who can offer jobs based on the employees’ skills and experience.
The Energy Industry Jobs Plan is administered by the Net Zero Economy Authority (the Authority). The Authority provides advice, education and coordination as Australia transitions to a net zero emissions economy.
Visit the Authority’s website to find out more about the Authority and the Energy Industry Jobs Plan.
When the owner or operator of a coal-fired or gas-fired power station announces that it plans to close the power station (or part of the power station), the Net Zero Economy Authority CEO (CEO) can ask us (apply) for a ‘community of interest determination’. The CEO usually needs to apply at least two years before the planned closure. There are steps they need to follow first (see ‘community of interest process’).
If we make a community of interest determination, closing employers and dependent employers we specify in the determination will need to support their employees to find new employment.
If we have made a community of interest determination, we can then make other determinations and orders about what an employer needs to do to meet their obligations under the Energy Industry Jobs Plan. We can only do this if someone asks us to (applies).
An employer must be a constitutional corporation to be a closing employer or a dependent employer. This means individual contractors and partnerships may not be covered by the Energy Industry Jobs Plan.
Closing employers
The owner or operator of a closing coal-fired or gas-fired power station is a ‘closing employer’. An owner or operator that doesn’t directly employ employees at the power station will still be a closing employer, but it will have limited obligations under the Energy Industry Jobs Plan.
An associated entity of the owner or operator can also be a closing employer if it
Dependent employers
Dependent employers include employers that supply goods or services to a closing power station through a commercial arrangement, and whose business operations in the geographical area will be (or are likely to be) substantially affected by the closure. This might include contractors supplying maintenance, security, cleaning or canteen services.
Other employers whose employees work on-site at a coal mine that supplies coal to a closing power station may also be dependent employers.