The Electrical Trades Union has singled out the efforts of Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams, saying her advocacy on behalf of local Essential Energy workers was integral in delivering a halt to plans to slash 182 jobs.
NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean yesterday issued a directive to publicly-owned electricity distributor Essential Energy ordering the company to halt the job cuts that would have disproportionately impacted the Port Macquarie community.
The ETU met with Ms Williams to outline alternatives to job losses, including savings measures and potential revenue streams, with the Port Macquarie MP championing those solutions within the NSW Government.
ETU assistant secretary Ben Lister said that while the spotlight was on Mr Kean and Deputy Premier John Barilaro for negotiating the outcome, it was important that the hard work of Ms Williams was recognised.
“Port Macquarie was in the cross-hairs with these cuts — dozens of workers faced the chop — so no community should be happier with the announcement that this round of job losses have been halted,” Mr Lister said.
“This is a community that has already suffered from heavy cuts in recent years, putting a dent in the local economy and forcing local families away as they search for work.
“Leslie Williams understood exactly why these cuts were so bad for regional NSW and the Port Macquarie community in particular, and she worked closely with us to fight to have this bad plan overturned.
“Workers at Essential Energy are ecstatic about this outcome, and they are particularly thankful for the efforts of Energy Minister Matt Kean, Deputy Premier John Barilaro, and Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams.
“Our next step will be to work with the company, NSW Government, and local MPs including Ms Williams to find alternatives to Essential Energy’s longer-term plan to slash another 500 jobs — a large number of which will be in Port Macquarie — by 2024.”
/Public Release.
