Statement from Star of the South

10 March 2021

Today EnergyAustralia announced that it will retire the Yallourn Power Station in Gippsland in mid-2028.  

This is not easy or welcome news for many of the workers who have dedicated years of service to Yallourn and the Victorian public.

We also know from our conversations with workers, that it is not unexpected.

We would like to acknowledge the role that Yallourn and its workers have played in powering our state for many decades. We owe them a debt of thanks and an obligation to look for new opportunities that can continue Gippsland’s proud history of power generation.

We will seek discussions with EnergyAustralia, the Latrobe Valley Authority and other relevant authorities on how we can work together to support workers who may be able to retrain for a future career in offshore wind. 

While we are still exploring the feasibility of offshore wind in Victoria, we are hopeful and optimistic about harnessing Gippsland’s strong Bass Strait winds to power homes and create long-term jobs in the region. 

We will continue to work with local industry, unions and all levels of government on the opportunity to make Gippsland the home of offshore wind in Australia – paving the way for new investment and growth.