Jun 3, 2026 – 1.10pmA major union is pushing the Albanese government to nationalise a large chunk of the electricity grid to create cheap subsidised power for Australia’s struggling heavy industry and manufacturing businesses and speed up the clean energy rollout.The multibillion-dollar proposal is designed to directly address the power cost pressures facing Australia’s heavy industrial sector, which have forced governments into a series of ad hoc rescue packages for uncompetitive metals smelters over the past two years.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles
The radical plan to rescue struggling smelters with state-owned power
A major union wants the federal government to nationalise a big chunk of Australia’s energy grid to save heavy industrial businesses from collapse.
TL;DRAI
Union pushes Australian government to nationalise grid portions, supplying cheap subsidised power to struggling smelters and heavy industry. Growing energy-cost interventions signal power becoming state strategic tool for industrial competitiveness; new protectionism vector reshaping global manufacturing leverage.
99 words~1 min read
