We explain our role in the Energy Industry Jobs Plan, which supports employees to transition to new employment when a coal-fired or gas-fired power station closes. If we approve the Energy Industry Jobs Plan for a particular closure, it 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 jobs, 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 prepare for new job opportunities. Employees will be connected with other employers in the region 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 2 years before the planned closure. See steps for making a community of interest determination for more information about how a determination is made. A community of interest determination formally establishes the Energy Industry Jobs Plan for a closure.
If we make a determination and it is in force, the closing employers and dependent employers we specify in the determination will have certain obligations to support their employees to find new jobs.
If someone asks us to (applies), we can make other determinations and orders about what an employer needs to do to meet their obligations under the Energy Industry Jobs Plan. See when a community of interest determination is in force.
An employer must be a constitutional corporation to be a closing employer or a dependent employer. A constitutional corporation is a financial or trading corporation formed in Australia or a foreign corporation (a corporation incorporated outside Australia) that does business in Australia.
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 region 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.