The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has backed Australia's first major offshore wind project, Star of the South proposed off Victoria's Gippsland coast, urging the federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor to sign off on the project's exploration license. Answering questions in senate estimates this week and following an FOI by the union, the Department of Environment & Energy revealed it has evaluated the project, briefed the Energy Minister and made recommendations on the project -- but no decision has been made. The MUA represents 16,000 Australian stevedores, seafarers, and offshore oil and gas workers, and argues that the project would create a new source of jobs for people working in the offshore fossil fuel sector. MUA Deputy Sectretary Will Tracey said "This project isn’t just about generating renewable energy and tackling climate change, it’s about creating secure jobs for the future, particularly for workers who are being displaced from the offshore oil and gas industries"