UPDATE: In late September 2022 AGL announced it would bring forward the closure of its dirtiest coal power station - Loy Yang A in Victoria's Latrobe Valley - by 10 years! This is another positive step in the right direction and is thanks to the hard work of health workers and allies pressuring Australia's largest climate polluter.

May 2022: Today marks a huge watershed movement in the long-running campaign to shift Australia’s biggest climate polluter AGL to replace its coal-burning power stations with renewable energy by 2030 - a campaign that hundreds of healthcare workers, organisations and community members have played a critical role in and one in which you should feel proud.

Healthcare workers stage die-in at AGL office to protest pollution

(Melbourne) January 31, 2022

Gippsland health professionals have travelled to Melbourne this morning to join a theatrical health protest outside AGL’s head office to call on the energy giant to reduce its harmful coal pollution, warning that the health impacts of climate change could dwarf the impacts of Covid-19.

Fairfax Media released an investigation over the weekend exposing a litany of failures at one of AGL’s coal-burning power stations [1]. The investigation was prompted by our Freedom of Information request which uncovered an internal report exposing risky conditions at AGL’s Bayswater power station in NSW. These conditions have been backed up by a whistleblower working at Bayswater who revealed parts of the power station were falling apart and management turned a blind eye to problems that could risk public health.

Australia falls short

Did you know that coal-burning power stations in Australia are allowed to emit more air pollution than those in China, the United States or Europe? Unlike in Australia, countries in those regions require most coal-burning power stations to install basic pollution controls that cut toxic pollutants by more than 85 percent. While we think we’re the lucky country, when it comes to air pollution regulation, Australian communities are underserved.

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is asking for our opinion on air pollution levels – we mustn’t miss this opportunity to stop one of NSW’s dirtiest coal-burning power stations from continuing to exceed air pollution laws.

Vales Point Power Station on NSW’s Central Coast has had a special exemption in place for the last decade that has allowed owners Delta Electricity to emit close to twice as much toxic nitrogen oxides (NOx) than emission limits under the Clean Air Act. The EPA is now considering whether to extend that exemption for a further 5 years and is asking what the public thinks - but submissions are only open until next Wednesday November 10. Now's our chance to speak up.

It has been a huge few weeks in our campaign to pressure Australia's largest polluter, AGL, to protect our health and our climate. The actions and support of healthcare professionals, students and community members like you are having an impact - thank you to all those who have been involved so far.