The Net Zero Economy Authority (NZEA) has begun a consultation process regarding the closure of Gladstone Power Station in Queensland to determine whether the Energy Industry Jobs Plan (EIJP) is required to facilitate a smooth transition for affected employees and the regional workforce.
The EIJP is a regulatory framework that requires employers to provide their employees with access to supports such as career planning, financial advice and training where requested, to assist them to prepare for and transition to new employment.
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Gladstone Power Station is operated by NRG Gladstone Operating Services Pty Ltd on behalf of an unincorporated joint venture. In 2025, it was announced by the owners that the station may be retired in March 2029.
“We welcome feedback from workers, businesses and members of the Central Queensland community to help us understand if the Energy Industry Jobs Plan framework is necessary to support a smooth and orderly transition for the closure of Gladstone Power Station,” NZEA CEO David Shankey said.
“We want to ensure that the regions most impacted by energy system changes are supported. We have been working with the Queensland Government, Gladstone Manufacturing Hub, AusIndustry, CQ University and Gladstone Regional Council to plan and coordinate industrial transition in the Central Queensland region.
“Gladstone’s energy system and heavy industry aren’t being replaced, they are evolving. Rio Tinto’s Yarwun refinery is decarbonising, and the Boyne Smelter has signed renewable power deals. New industry is arriving too, with Alpha HPA creating local jobs, and Yarwun Hydrogen Calcination pilot plant under construction.
“These are positive developments in the region,” Shankey said.
As part of the public consultation, NZEA will engage directly with key stakeholders in Gladstone and Central Queensland, including the power station owners, the Queensland government, Gladstone Regional Council, supply chain businesses, unions, employer organisations, local employers, community groups, and others.
If the consultation process indicates the Energy Industry Jobs Plan is needed to support an orderly transition for the Gladstone Power Station closure, Shankey will apply to the Fair Work Commission, which will ultimately determine if the EIJP should be put in place and which employers are included.
David Shankey and NZEA representatives will be visiting the region in early September to meet with stakeholders and businesses to discuss the impact of the Gladstone Power Station closure, whether workers have access to the supports they need and economic opportunities in the region, including the capacity of local employers to offer jobs to transitioning workers.
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A consultation paper outlines the key issues NZEA is seeking feedback on, including how the closure may impact the community, what support services are already available, and what job opportunities exist in the region across different occupations and skill levels.
Submissions can be made here.
