The Hon. David Davis MP Meets With Gippsland Industry Leaders
Committee for Gippsland was pleased to welcome the Hon David Davis MP, Victorian Shadow Minister for Energy, Emissions Reduction and Resources, to the region to meet with a range of local stakeholders and business leaders.
Committee for Gippsland CEO Tony Cantwell said it was highly valuable to hear from the Shadow Minister alongside Member for Gippsland South and Deputy Leader of the Coalition, Danny O’Brien MP to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the region undergoing regional transition.
“We’re working to ensure Gippsland has the support, policy settings and investment needed to successfully manage the transition,” Mr Cantwell said.
“Energy has long been one of Gippsland’s defining industries, and our region will continue to play a critical role in Victoria’s energy future.
“Bringing together leaders from industry, government and community allows us to have constructive conversations about how our future is shaped,” he said.
Mr Davis’s visit to the region began with a roundtable discussion focused on offshore wind, highlighting the important role offshore wind will play in Victoria’s future energy mix. Gippsland’s natural resources, access to transmission infrastructure, skilled workforce and strong community engagement were all identified as key advantages for the region’s offshore wind zone.
Mr Davis and Mr O’Brien also met with a broader group of industry stakeholders across sectors including energy, critical minerals, carbon capture, gas storage, manufacturing, education, telecommunications and workforce development.
This was followed by visits to Loy Yang A Power Station and the Marinus Link office in Traralgon.
Committee for Gippsland Deputy Chair Lisa Gooding said the visit provided a valuable opportunity to showcase the region’s role and versatility in helping achieve a successful energy transition that delivers benefits for Victoria and beyond.
“Gippsland is well placed to lead the next chapter of Victoria and Australia’s energy sector,” Ms Gooding said.
“Our region has the natural resources, infrastructure and workforce needed to support new energy industries, and it’s encouraging to see strong interest from government in learning more about Gippsland’s strengths and opportunities for growth,” she said.
