Led by Healthy Futures, Climate and Health Alliance and Doctors for the Environement Australia, more than 300 doctors doctors, nurses and other health-care workers have signed an open letter urging the Victorian government to include steps in its forthcoming Renewable Energy Action Plan to start the closure process of the polluting coal-fired power stations in the Latrobe Valley, beginning with Hazelwood which is the most inefficient power station in Australia. They presented the letter to the Premier’s office today at Parliament House. See the story in today’s The Age, and their post below.
The health risks of coal mines were appallingly evident in Victoria with the 2104 Hazelwood coalmine fire, which began on 9 February 2014 and burned for 45 days, sending smoke and ash over the town of Morwell in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley. It became a major issue in the 2014 State election and led to the new Andrews Labor Government re-opening the mine fire inquiry to examine whether it caused premature deaths in the area and annou_1" data-id="2">