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Labor’s missing coal policy

Promised coal policy by Labor on 2016, not delivered.

By Portal Admin - 15th May 2017 - Back to News

Background:

Labor announced their coal review in 2015 and promised to deliver its coal policy in 2016.

With no policy delivered, Daniel Andrews has left the community, mining and energy sectors in the dark over their future in Victoria.

Daniel Andrews has put Victoria’s energy supply in jeopardy, prematurely forcing the Hazelwood Power Station to a shutdown that cut 22 per cent of the state’s power generation capacity and sent prices instantly increasing by around 10 per cent.

Under Daniel Andrews’ control, there is deep concern that Labor’s Latrobe Valley Rehabilitation Commissioner will be tasked with shutting down coal power stations instead of planning safe rehabilitation for the future.

AEMO has warned Victoria’s electricity generation capacity could be -145MW in summer 2017-18 because of Hazelwood’s closure.

Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources David Southwick:

Victoria’s energy supply is on a knife edge, and Daniel Andrews’ war on coal will only cause more blackouts and even higher power prices.

It’s clear Daniel Andrews’ coal policy is to keep it in the ground, force the closure of power stations like Hazelwood and increase the cost of living pressures on families and businesses.

Labor’s ideological policies have led Victoria into an energy security crisis where blackouts loom and the average annual household energy bill is set to rise $300 this year.

Victorian families and businesses cannot afford more reckless Labor decisions on our State’s energy security.

Comments attributable to Member for Morwell, Russell Northe:

Daniel Andrews needs to immediately release his coal policy and give certainty to the Latrobe Valley and the thousands of jobs which depend on coal.

Victoria was built on the affordable, reliable and secure power generation supplied from the Latrobe Valley, but Labor is more worried about grabbing inner-city Green votes.

Daniel Andrews needs to take off his left wing-tinted glasses when it comes to brown coal innovation which is important for jobs in Victoria and the Latrobe Valley.

Media contact:

Alexander Baranikow

0438 838 322

alexander.baranikow@parliament.vic.gov.au

Source: http://gippsland.com

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