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Nationals calls on Labor to shed light on plans to keep Victoria out of the dark

Gippsland Nationals Members have questioned the Labor Government on detailing plans on how it will reach its renewable energy target while ensuring security of supply.

By Portal Admin - 7th November 2016 - Back to News

Member for Eastern Victoria Region Melina Bath said it was all well and good for Labor to announce an ambitious renewable energy target of 25 per cent of electricity to come from renewable energy by 2020 and then rising to 40 per cent by 2025 – but asked for details on how these targets would be achieved. "I agree that ultimately what we want to see is more renewable energy and lower emissions but in doing this we need to ensure proper transition plans are in place and that these targets aren’t met at the expense of power affordability and the stability of the system," Ms Bath said in parliament.

She said people in the Latrobe Valley would be affected by these targets more so than others as the region supplies around 85 per cent of electricity for the entire state of Victoria.

"To meet these renewable targets it’s inevitable that brown coal power stations will have to close which sadly means the loss of potentially thousands of jobs in my region," Ms Bath said.

"When the Premier announced this renewable target he failed to mention the affect it would have on jobs in the Latrobe Valley or any plan as to how this will be counter-acted.

"There’s been much speculation on Hazelwood Power station closing sooner rather than later and we’ve heard that householders should brace for steep rises in their power bills with the Victorian retail electricity price tipped to jump by 25 per cent in the first year following Hazelwood’s closure."

A report by the Grattan Institute showed unilateral state-based renewable energy targets were likely to drive up power costs for "no net environmental benefit" and this is on top of the tripling of brown coal royalties in Labor’s budget.

Ms Bath said while she agreed a transition to more renewable energy was needed this needed to be done without risking Victoria’s cheap power and energy.

"I call on the Minister to produce a detailed plan on how this government intends to reach its renewable target while ensuring we still have security of supply."

Member for Morwell Russell Northe agreed saying the CFMEU also had concerns about security of supply.

"The South Australian experience is one where there is no doubt that when they have turned away from coal-generated electricity — and from gas, for that matter — they are paying the price literally through the hip pocket," Mr Northe said.

"What people in the Latrobe Valley and the wider Gippsland community are asking me about the possible closure of Hazelwood and the introduction of the Victorian government's renewable energy target is: where is the evidence to say that jobs, security of supply and cost to consumers will not be impacted upon?

"That evidence has not been provided and that is what we need to see — and that is what our community is asking for."

Media Contact:

Renee Switzer

5174 7066

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: support@gippsland.com



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