Locals should be excited about the future of the Hunter.
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Following Snowy Hydro's commitment to building energy infrastructure in Kurri Kurri at the old Hydro site, locals feel optimistic, and so they should.
Last week in Parliament, I met with Paul Broad, the CEO of Snowy Hydro and made the community's expectations clear that this project must employ Kurri locals first and foremost.
The Hunter needs these jobs, not contractors from Sydney or out-of-towners.
This project can deliver 600 construction jobs and, within that, multiple apprenticeship opportunities to grow local skills and employability.
Some in the community have raised concerns about this projects environmental impacts, but here are the facts; projects like this will underpin Australia's transition to alternative energy solutions.
NSW needs additional dispatch power to facilitate and firm the growth of renewable energy. The industry estimates for every 2 megawatt (MW) of renewables, we need 1MW dispatchable generation.
A gas-fired generator has between 55-75% lower emissions than coal. Even though the coal industry has many years of growing exports, we need to recognise investment in new technology and ensure that it is underpinned with the necessary infrastructure.
This past week we have seen former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull contradict the Prime Minister and suggest this project shouldn't proceed.
Yet Turnbull's own former chief scientist Dr Alan Finkel supports the Kurri Kurri proposal, stating that: "It's not there to replace coal. It's really there to support solar, and wind, and that's an important distinction".
I want locals to know I will always back local jobs. I'm a proud daughter of the coalfields and understand our regions thrive or die on jobs and opportunities.
Recently while in Kurri for some local meetings, a few locals raised issues with me about the need for a National Integrity Commission (NIC).
I am a proud advocate for an Integrity Commission because public faith in politicians has been waning for some time now.
Frustratingly, recent Senate Estimates has confirmed that not only does Scott Morrison's "plans" for an Integrity Commission have no staff, but its budget has also now been effectively wiped.
This month's Budget papers revealed not a single staff member has been allocated to the commission for at least another 14 months.
Estimates revealed the same thing had effectively happened to its funding, with the $140 million set aside in the 2019/20 Budget now removed as a dedicated line item and hidden in the contingency reserve.
I appreciate locals raising concerns about this need and remain committed to ensuring that if this government doesn't take action on corruption, an Albanese Labor Government will.