Question details
Morwell electorate
(1466) My last constituency question for the year is for the Minister for the State Electricity Commission, and the question is: how many of the promised 59,000 renewable energy skilled tradespeople jobs have been created and based in the Latrobe Valley? The government promised that bringing back the SEC would create 59,000 renewable energy jobs as part of the Victorian renewable energy transition. With the Yallourn power station set to close down in mid 2028, representing thousands of jobs, there has been no investment by the SEC in the Latrobe Valley despite it being the epicentre of energy generation. Locals fear these jobs will not happen here. Minister, the workers in the Latrobe Valley look forward to hearing how many of these promised 59,000 renewable energy skilled tradespeople jobs have actually been created and based in the Latrobe Valley.
The jobs figure referred to by the Member for Morwell is an estimate of the total number of direct, indirect and induced jobs created by the construction and operation of new renewable energy and energy storage capacity introduced in Victoria to meet Victoria’s 2035 renewable energy and energy storage targets over the period from 2023 to 2035.
The estimate was based on economic impacts modelling undertaken for the then Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning in 2022 in support of the development of Victoria’s 2035 renewable energy and energy storage targets. This modelling was undertaken at a statewide level and does not include results at a sub-regional level. Further information about this modelling is available in a report published on the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action website and can be accessed at https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/renewable-energy/victorian-renewable-energy-and-storage-targets.
More recent modelling undertaken for the Victorian Energy Jobs Plan (the Plan), expected to be released in 2026, projects an energy workforce that will grow to 67,000 workers in 2040. This represents a growth of more than 60% from 2025, driven by Victoria’s renewable energy targets. Further information on the Plan can be found at https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/renewable-energy/victorian-energy-jobs-plan.
SEC’s pipeline of renewable energy generation, storage, electrification and retail activities is expected to create thousands of jobs across Victoria, including in Gippsland. SEC is already contributing to this workforce growth. To date, SEC's renewable energy projects have created work and training opportunities for 1,345 individual workers, including engineers, project managers, and a wide range of skilled trades, with most located in regional Victoria. This also includes 76 apprentice, trainee and cadet opportunities, across the construction and commissioning of major projects such as the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub and the SEC Renewable Energy Park in Horsham.
SEC’s most recent project, the Delburn Wind Farm, just south of the Latrobe Valley, will create more than 300 local jobs, tapping into Gippsland's highly skilled energy workforce. It will bring significant local economic benefits, including more than $22 million in neighbour and community benefit sharing programs over its 35-year operational life.
SEC has established a permanent community and operational hub in Morwell, which employs 13 people locally including students in partnership with TAFE Gippsland and Federation University to provide work and training opportunities.
The hub’s design, construction, fit-out and installation work was delivered by local Latrobe Valley businesses, and local providers are being used for cleaning, catering and ongoing maintenance.
The Latrobe Valley is also a pilot region for SEC’s home electrification program, supporting local households to install efficient electric hot water systems. SEC is expanding this work, which is expected to support hundreds of new trades roles statewide as demand for installers and related skills grows.
The Gippsland region is also benefitting from a number of renewable energy and energy storage projects recently or currently under construction including the Latrobe Valley and Wooreen battery energy storage systems and the Fulham solar farm and battery. Many more renewable energy and energy storage projects have been approved in the Gippsland region that if developed will contribute further economic activity to the region.
The Victorian Government is also supporting the establishment of an offshore wind industry, which is expected to support thousands of local jobs particularly in regions near declared offshore wind zones and port infrastructure, such as Gippsland. At its peak, the sector is estimated to require up to 2,300 – 4,000 jobs across Australia with the vast majority in Victoria. As the industry matures and reaches its operational phase, an estimated 1,500 – 1,750 ongoing jobs will be needed over 30 years. Further information can be found at https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/renewable-energy/offshore-wind-energy.
To facilitate support for workers and their communities in the Latrobe Valley and broader Gippsland region impacted by the net zero transition, the Victorian Government has been collaborating with the Commonwealth Government Net Zero Economy Authority (NZEA) and Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. The NZEA was established in 2024 specifically for this purpose, which includes encouraging public and private sector participation and investment in new and existing industries. For more information, visit www.netzero.gov.au.
Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP
Minister for Climate Action
Minister for Energy and Resources
Minister for the State Electricity Commission