The proposal intends to ensure coal and gas workers, and their communities are supported during the transition to zero emissions, with the following components:

Component 1: would create a job-for-job guarantee to support workers in the domestic coal and gas sectors through the Green’s policy to phase out the coal & gas industries. The guarantee would be implemented in the following manner:

• Non-fossil fuel employers would receive a wage subsidy equal to 50% of the average wage of a full-time worker in the mining sector if they employ someone who lost their job due to the above mentioned closures and pay the employee a wage rate at least equal to the amount the employee received in their prior job.
• If an eligible employee is unable to find a job that attracts the above wage guarantee, then they may claim an amount equivalent to the wage subsidy directly for a period of 10 years, in addition to any other social security entitlement they may be entitled to.
• Workers aged over 55 that choose to retire may claim the wage subsidy directly for a period of up to 12 years, in addition to any other pension, superannuation or social security payments they would otherwise be entitled to.

The job-for-job guarantee would operate for eligible thermal coal mine workers and domestic coal generation workers from 1 July 2025, and for eligible metallurgical coal workers and gas-related workers in the period from 1 July 2030. Up to two-thirds of workers within each specified time period would be eligible for the wage subsidy.

Component 2: Expand the Fair Work Coverage in Part 5 of the Net Zero Economy Authority Act 2024 (NZEA Act) to workers in the coal and gas export sectors (currently only domestic plant workers are covered).

Component 3: Provide the Net Zero Economy Authority (NZEA) with $10 billion in direct equity funding, focused on building common use renewable energy sources for heavy industrial and manufacturing zones currently reliant on fossil fuels.

• The $10 billion would be distributed evenly over 4 years from the commencement date.
• Funding would go towards building the renewable energy transmission and network infrastructure directly needed for manufacturing and export hubs.

The proposal would commence on 1 July 2025.