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Labor government fails to deliver promised energy security and affordability, despite SEC's constitutional enshrinement

The revived State Electricity Commission's first annual report reveals the Allan Labor government is failing to deliver affordable energy, with skyrocketing bills and minimal investment in renewable energy.

By news@gippsland - 17th October 2024 - Back to News

Just as the revived State Electricity Commission was nonsensically enshrined in the Victorian Constitution, its first annual report has confirmed the Allan Labor government is failing to deliver the affordable and secure energy Victorians were promised. Legislation passed yesterday to embed the SEC's mandate and "flimsy" objectives into the Victorian Constitution, despite it making just one investment - as a minority shareholder.

Despite $300 million allocated to the Latrobe Valley Authority, local jobs have declined by 8% over the last 11 years, reflecting government deception

SEC failure exposed

Nationals' Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, said, "It has been two years since Labor announced it was reviving the SEC, but all we have to show for it is energy bills that have skyrocketed 43% compared to the same time last year according to AEMO."

"Labor has done nothing to assure Victorians the SEC can or will deliver enough renewable energy in time for the accelerated closure of coal-fired power stations, yet it's now part of the Victorian Constitution, which shouldn't be manipulated by the government of the day to include half-baked legislation," he said.

The SEC's 2023-24 annual report also reveals all four original board members resigned from their positions within 12 months, and there is still just one employee based out of the Morwell GovHub.

Broken job promises

Mr Cameron said, "Labor told us, with much fanfare, the SEC would be 'brought back to Morwell', yet all we have is one part-time employee hot-desking at the GovHub. Despite all the spin, and some $300 million that was given to the now-defunct Latrobe Valley Authority, the number of jobs in the Latrobe local government area has shrunk by 8% in the last 11 years.*

"The deceptive promise the SEC would be 'brought back to Morwell' reeks of a government weaponizing the issue of employment in a grab for votes. Hazelwood shut in 2017, Yallourn will shut in 2028, Loy Yang A will shut in 2032, and Loy Yang B will follow later that decade, yet there is no indication Labor has a plan to establish new industries in the Valley to replace the thousands of jobs that will be lost here," he said.

Hydrogen project opportunity

Mr Cameron said, "We have the coal-to-hydrogen project, which has gained the commercial support of the Japanese government to the tune of $2 billion, needs Labor's backing and is sort of project perfectly suited to our highly-skilled workforce, existing energy infrastructure and resources."

"We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to achieve the significant economic and emission reduction benefits that commercial projects like this will deliver, and we can do it right here in the Latrobe Valley if the state government comes to the party," he said.

Pictures from Martin Cameron MP website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com