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Government fails to provide answers amid Victoria’s Electricity Crisis

Still no answers for Victoria's electricity Crisis

By Portal Admin - 4th December 2017 - Back to News

Member for Morwell, Russell Northe today expressed his disappointment in the State Governments lack of action in addressing Victoria’s energy crisis that has seen jobs lost, prices increase and security of supply threatened.

Mr Northe today asked the Minister for Energy, Lily D’Ambrosio questions in Parliament including if the Minister stood by her previous statements "that the decision to keep Hazelwood fully operating was disgraceful".

"Given the dire consequences of Hazelwood Power Station closing down which now sees the consideration of 100 one megawatt diesel powered generators being installed to secure energy supply for Victoria over the summer period, one would think that the State Government would realise the error of Hazelwood’s complete shutdown in the space of a few months," Mr Northe said.

Mr Northe said, "We now have this crazy situation where Victoria in recent months has been regularly importing electricity from Tasmania, South Australia and New South Wales whilst also having the highest wholesale electricity prices out of those States."

"So not only have we lost hundreds of local jobs, we have seen electricity prices go through the roof and we have seen security of supply threatened, and if anyone thinks this is a positive outcome from Hazelwood closing then they have rocks in their head," Mr Northe said.

Mr Northe also asked the Minister for Energy if the Government supported the construction of a new High Efficiency Low Emission (HELE) coal fired power station in the Latrobe Valley.

"I fear the issues associated with Hazelwood closing will only worsen if action is not taken to bring more baseload capacity on line particularly with Hazelwood gone and Yallourn also potentially closing in the not too distant future," Mr Northe said.

Unfortunately the current State Government appear to have no desire to consider the construction of a new High Efficiency Low Emission (HELE) coal fired power station in the Latrobe Valley, which will be extremely disappointing for many local residents.

The $252 million of extra taxes imposed on Latrobe Valley generators by the State Government and the lack of desire in attempting to keep Hazelwood operating even at a reduced capacity have had major repercussions both locally and State wide.

I call upon all political parties to support the construction of new High Efficiency Low Emission (HELE) coal fired power station in the Latrobe Valley that would create local jobs, lower electricity prices and strengthen energy security in this State.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com