As the Latrobe Valley prepares to mark the centenary of Yallourn power station’s first base load electricity production on June 15, The Nationals’ Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, says the time is now to ensure the region remains the epicentre of power production in Victoria.
“It’s an occasion to celebrate all our great region has achieved over the last 100 years and an opportune time to cast an eye towards the next 100 years of power generation,” Mr Cameron said.
“The Latrobe Valley has powered the state for more than a century, and it’s here where the impending accelerated closure of coal-fired power stations will be felt.
“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 – the time to shore-up Victoria’s energy supply is now.
“Labor has had 10 years to prepare for the transition away from coal-fired power, but repeated inaction and mismanagement of the grid means the state is in a precarious position.
“Shutting down our coal-fired power stations and ripping the state of gas without a plan to keep the lights on is a recipe for disaster.
“The idea that a revived State Electricity Commission will deliver enough renewable energy to meet demand in time for the accelerated closure of our power stations is fanciful.
“More than 18 months since Labor announced it would revive the SEC, it has done next to nothing to shore-up our energy supply – it has invested in one single project as a minority shareholder when the private sector was already doing the work, without taxpayer funds.
“I support a sensible and considered transition to renewables, but Labor’s plan is neither sensible nor considered and the goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2045 is based on ideology and not reality.
“I am deeply invested in a positive future for our region, and it’s unthinkable that the Latrobe Valley Authority had six years and $300 million to produce a strategic roadmap but all we got was a glossy brochure.
“The so-called ‘transition plan’ is no plan at all. It completely ignores the urgency to establish new industries for our highly skilled workforce in which to transition – there’s not one concrete target, timeline, or measurable outcome.”
“Here in the Latrobe Valley, where we have powered the state for a century, we have the know-how and infrastructure to lead Victoria through another 100 years of power generation, but we need real leadership from a state government that is prepared to take sensible and decisive action.
“Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage the state’s energy, and Victorians are paying the price.”
