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Greens Policy To Devastate Victorian EconomyThe Victorian economy would be devastated by The Greens’ plan to decommission Hazelwood power station, Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources Philip Davis said today. By Phillip Davis - 9th October 2006 - Back to News The decommissioning of Hazelwood would not only result in 500 direct job losses at the power station, but also several hundred contractors.
The cost of electricity would escalate, leading to wide-spread job losses in industry throughout Victoria and higher energy costs for household consumers.
"This is yet another half-baked policy we now expect from The Greens," Mr Davis said.
"The Latrobe Valley is vital to the Victorian economy, because 97% of Victoria’s base load electricity comes from brown coal.
"Every family, business and industry in Victoria relies on electricity produced in the Latrobe Valley, of which International Power Hazelwood is an integral part.
"Hazelwood Power is a private business operating under state licences which run for decades.
"Are The Greens now proposing that State Governments should arbitrarily confiscate private assets to implement their radical policy?
"If not, are they proposing to burden Victorian tax payers with the cost of the State compulsorily acquiring the power station from International Power?
"If this was to occur, no owner of private property in Victoria could feel safe.
"This policy does not make logical or economic sense, and is simply economic vandalism."
Mr Davis said The Greens would ruin Victoria’s ability to attract investment as there would be considerable uncertainty about the role of government in interfering in the ownership of property.
"Energy supply is complex and a blanket shut-down of coal-fired power stations will not progress energy or greenhouse policy in a responsible way.
"A Liberal Government would be committed to focusing on greenhouse gas reduction strategies working with all potential energy providers but not unilaterally shutting down the Latrobe Valley power stations and consequently most of the activity in Victoria to achieve this."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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