Dozens of Myuna Colliery workers today headed towards Eraring Power Station, rallying against the backdrop of an inflatable “fat cat”.
It’s part of seven days of action by the Mining and Energy Union aimed at Eraring’s owner, Origin Energy.
It offered mine operator Centennial Coal a 12-month extension of its deal to supply Eraring yesterday – but Centennial wants a three-year deal.
Local MPs today weighed in.
“Origin increased its profit by 25 per cent last year, and they need to give back to the community,” Labor Member for Shortland Pat Conroy told NBN News.
“They have a commitment to the people of the Hunter, the people of Lake Macquarie to look after those 300 people employed at the mine site there that is only supplying coal to Eraring,” Labor colleague and Federal Member for Hunter, Dan Repacholi said.
Origin has told NBN News it’s ready to agree to a fair and realistic contract with Centennial… stating the colliery operator’s “latest proposal involves pricing that is around $50-million higher than the market every year”.
FULL ORIGIN STATEMENT:
“Origin is ready to agree a fair and realistic contract with Centennial that helps to protect jobs. Yesterday we offered a 12‑month extension on the same terms Myuna operates under today, which Centennial rejected within hours.
Centennial’s latest proposal involves pricing that is around $50 million higher than the market every year. We cannot responsibly accept costs of that scale because it would undermine our ability to operate Eraring sustainably and to continue supporting customers and communities through the energy transition.
The cost of operating Myuna is a matter for Centennial and its owner, Banpu and those costs cannot be shifted to another business. Centennial has known for years that Eraring is an ageing asset and has a responsibility to plan for its workforce, just as Origin has done for ours.
We remain ready to continue negotiating in good faith – on terms that support workers and allow us to operate Eraring responsibly through to 2029.”
