Local industry leaders and business representatives held a roundtable on energy pricing in Dandenong on Friday with the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio MP.

The roundtable was called by Member for Dandenong, Gabrielle Williams, who wanted to provide local industry an opportunity to discuss concerns about higher energy prices and its impacts on local industry and jobs.

Ms Williams and the Minister D’Ambrosio were joined by fifteen industry leaders from some of the largest businesses and employers in the south-east, including senior representatives from Jayco, Nissan Castings, Tycab Australia and Horizon Global.

There was a wide-ranging discussion on energy policy and the impacts on business which finished with discussion of a number of proposals that the Government could consider to address specific concerns of local industry.

Industry leaders expressed concerns about energy price rises and the potential impact on the global competitiveness of local businesses.

The Minister expressed concerns that Australia did not have a cohesive energy policy and a strategic plan to cost effectively transition to a low carbon economy, and the Victorian Government would continue to work through the COAG Energy Council, the key intergovernmental forum for developing Australia’s energy policies.

In addition, the Minister outlined a number of government programs that have been launched to directly support businesses. For more information visit, http://www.business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/grants-and-assistance.