Former chemical engineer Janet Murray has joined the race for the seat of Hunter, announced as the Greens' candidate for the upcoming federal election.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ms Murray's campaign was launched by the Greens' lead Senate candidate for NSW, David Shoebridge, at Bridges Hill Park in Cessnock on Saturday.
Ms Murray - who has lived on a rural property near Kurri Kurri for 28 years - managed the blast furnace department at BHP's Newcastle Steelworks before being retrenched when it closed in 1999.
A vocal opponent of the federal government's Kurri Kurri gas plant, she said it's time to have an "effective plan for workers' futures as the Hunter transitions away from coal".
"It's time to end the lie that we'll be mining coal for decades to come. The LNP and Labor are giving false hope to our coal workers and I know from my own experience that the sooner you face reality, the sooner you can plan your future," Ms Murray said.
"Our plan to establish a Diversification Fund will bring about a renewable energy revolution and encourage new low-emissions businesses to invest in the area and employ people from the mining industry, without further fueling the fires and floods exacerbated by the climate catastrophe."
READ MORE:
Mr Shoebridge said Ms Murray's experience in rebuilding industry makes her the "ideal candidate".
"Janet knows what it's like to rebuild after an industry shutdown and she knows that a strategic plan to support workers and the region is critical," he said.
"Eraring's accelerated closure is the canary in the coal mine. It's telling us that whether we like it or not, the end of coal isn't decades away, but years and months.
"We need to make this transition a win for the workers, the economy and the region."
It will be Ms Murray's second tilt at the federal seat of Hunter, and follows her run for mayor at last year's Cessnock council election.
The federal election will be held no later than May 21.
Other candidates for the seat of Hunter include Dan Repacholi (Labor), James Thomson (Nationals), Dale McNamara (One Nation), Daniel Wallace (Independent), Stuart Bonds (Independent) and Geoff Passfield (United Australia Party).
Incumbent member Joel Fitzgibbon, who has held the seat for Labor since 1996, is retiring.