Energy Industry Jobs Plan and the Net Zero Economy Authority

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:

• closing power stations, and 
• other businesses that rely on closing power stations

to transition to new employment, if this is needed. 

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 apply to us for a ‘community of interest determination’. The CEO usually needs to make the application at least two years before the planned closure. 

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 the actions an employer needs to take to meet their obligations under the Energy Industry Jobs Plan. We can only do this if someone asks us to (applies). 

We will publish more information soon about the steps for making a community of interest determination and what we can do when a determination is in force.