It's great to be back to Morwell here today, folks, and I'm here to advocate for the nationalisation of the energy sector.

Energy is a basic necessity for the functioning of our society. It is essential for heating our homes, powering our factories and fuelling our transport. Yet, the energy sector is currently in the hands of a tiny minority of wealthy elites.

Nationalisation would put the energy sector under democratic control, so that it can be run in the interests of the majority. It would allow us to prioritise renewable energy sources, which are essential for tackling climate change. And it would provide much-needed investment in our energy infrastructure, which is in a state of disrepair.

By democratically controlling our workplaces, we can ensure that they are run in the best interests of workers, not bosses. When workplaces are democratically controlled, workers have a say in how they are run. This means that we can make sure that our workplaces are safe and healthy, that we are paid a fair wage, and that we have a voice in how our work is done.

Democratically controlled workplaces also mean that we can democratically decide how our work is used. This means that we can make sure that our work is used to benefit society, not to make profits for bosses. Because when bosses have control over all and put profit over people, the consequences can be tragic.

The Hazelwood mine fire is perhaps the most defining and most tragic example of the consequences of privatisation. This disaster could have been avoided if the mine had been nationalised. The fire has caused widespread health issues, with many people losing their homes and businesses. The mine was privatised in 1996, and since then it has been run down and neglected. The privatisation of the mine has resulted in a decline in safety standards, and has led to a decline in the number of jobs.

And that's truly saddening, because jobs are the lifeblood of our communities. They provide us with the means to support our families and to live our lives with dignity. Too often, we see our communities suffer when jobs are shipped overseas or when they are replaced by automation or, as in this case, when they're sacked by penny-pinching bosses. We need to fight for good jobs that pay a living wage. We need to fight for jobs that provide us with the ability to support our families and to live our lives with dignity. We need to fight for jobs that are accessible to our local communities.

It is clear that the only way to prevent future disasters like the Hazelwood mine fire and to deliver jobs that work for our community is to nationalise the energy sector. Under public ownership, mines like Hazelwood would be properly funded and would be run safely and efficiently. The workers would also be treated fairly, and would be given the proper training and safety equipment. Nationalisation would also allow us to reduce our reliance on coal, and would help us to transition to a clean, renewable energy future.

I stand for a society that is democratically controlled by the people, for the people. Nationalisation of the energy sector is a key step towards achieving that goal. Thank you.