Senate passes Net Zero Economy Authority Bill

Scrabble tiles spell Net Zero on blue and green background
Image: Shutterstock

Australia’s Senate has passed the Net Zero Economy Authority Bill for an independent statutory authority to oversee the nationโ€™s renewable energy transition.

The Net Zero Economy Authority (NZEA) will ensure workers and communities who have powered Australia for generations can seize the opportunities of the country’s net zero transformation.

Related article: Australia to legislate national Net Zero Authority

The authority will work with communities, state, territory and local governments, regional bodies, unions, industry, investors, First Nations groups and others to take advantage of net zero opportunities.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, โ€œThis marks an important step forward in our nationโ€™s successful transformation to a net zero economy.

“These Bills represent our commitment to ensuring no region, no community and no worker is left behind.

“This is about building the industries and creating the jobs that underpin our future prosperityโ€.

Related article: Transition to Net Zero not โ€˜one size fits allโ€™

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said, โ€œThe authority will have the job of looking after the workers in regions like the Hunter, Central Queensland, Gippsland in Victoria and Collie in Western Australia who are at the core of this transformation.

“It will be a one-stop shop for new industries coming to regional Australia to create jobs and investment and for the workers already there to prepare for the jobs for the future.โ€

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