ACT Independent Senator David Pocock will visit Newcastle on Monday 9 October to see firsthand some of the critical work that’s driving Australia’s transition to renewable energy before speaking at a Town Hall meeting on Monday evening.
“What was once Australia’s steel-city is now a leader in the race to transition to renewable energy sources,” Senator Pocock said.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the innovations that are going to be so critical to preventing the catastrophic impacts on the people and places we love from climate change.”
Senator Pocock will tour the University of Newcastle’s Institute for Energy and Resources, meet Open Foundation students and visit the Wollotuka Institute which in 2023 celebrates 40 years of working to advance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education and research.
“The work the University of Newcastle is doing with their pathways programs to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds is nation-leading. We need to keep striving to make tertiary education accessible to all Australians.”
Following this he will visit Energy Renaissance, checking out Australia’s first Gigafactory and their advanced battery manufacturing.
“Energy Renaissance is walking the talk when it comes to realising the massive opportunities open to Australia from the energy transition for value add manufacturing and creating the next generation of secure, high value jobs.”
Senator Pocock will also visit Batt Mobile before finishing the day with a public meeting at Newcastle Town Hall organised by Rising Tide from 6pm. The meeting comes ahead of a planned blockade of Newcastle Port in November.
Senator Pocock will be joined by the Climate Council’s Professor Lesley Hughes and Former President of Kiribati Anote Tong (via Zoom) on a panel moderated by Jane Caro.
“In economic terms, Australia has benefited enormously from coal exports and related jobs but the time to transition those jobs and that economic outlook is now,” Senator Pocock said.
“We simply can’t afford to keep burning the 166 million tonnes of coal exported from Newcastle port every year, let alone what is mined globally.
“This is urgent and requires an urgent response.”