It's difficult to check the news these days without hearing about coal. The debate in this country about the commodity's future is, to put it mildly, rancorous.
For some, the shift to renewable energy and away from fossil fuel exports needs to happen, and it needs to happen ten years ago. Others see a long future with coal a crucial part of Australia's energy mix, and a cornerstone of our economy.
For many on the ground in places like the Bowen Basin in Queensland, or the Hunter in NSW -- who are experiencing structural changes first hand -- it's like being trapped in no-man's land in a culture war
The people of the Latrobe Valley, in Victoria's Gippsland region about 90 minutes north west of Melbourne, know exactly what it looks like when there's no transition plan in place.
You could move, leave the community, and make good money elsewhere. But there's such a thing as quality of life and lifelong friendships. You don't want to throw them away.
- Mark Richards, former Hazelwood power station worker
On this episode of Voice of Real Australia we speak to people from Latrobe who are trying to figure out what comes next.
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