Australian budget expected to include national energy authority, unions say

Union leaders anticipate authority to help redeploy workers ahead of looming coal-fired power station closures

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The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has promised “further measures” on energy transition in the May budget, which influential union leaders have confirmed they expect will include an authority to help redeploy workers.

A national energy transition authority has been a central demand of unions leading into the budget, which the Electrical Trades Union acting secretary, Michael Wright, said he “anticipates and expects is something the government needs to act on” ahead of looming coal-fired power station closures.

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