Labor’s Corio MP has attacked the Turnbull Government for planning more coal-fired electricity as Australia confronts an “energy crisis and soaring power bills”.
Frontbencher Richard Marles instead called for more renewable energy to produce “cheaper, cleaner and more-secure power”.
He was responding to Liberal counterpart Sarah Henderson’s parliamentary questioning of Mr Turnbull this week about the government’s “immediate action” on power supplies.
The action includes asking the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) how new “continuous dispatchable power” could be provided and what “support” it would need.
The AEMO action was proof the government wanted to fund new coal-fired power, Mr Marles said.
“Australia is in the middle of an energy crisis and power bills are going through the roof under the Turnbull Government,” he said.
“We need a plan for cheaper, cleaner and more secure power, and that must mean more renewables.
“Malcolm Turnbull’s idea to subsidise new coal has been comprehensively rejected. It would increase pollution, it would increase power prices, and taxpayers would be left footing the bill.”
Mr Turnbull should instead stare down Liberal “climate-change deniers”, Mr Marles said.
“The fact that Turnbull is still contemplating putting taxpayer money to new coal plants says more about Turnbull’s inability to stand up to the hard right of his party than Australia’s energy needs.”
Ms Henderson, the Liberals’ Member for Corangamite, raised Mr Turnbull’s parliamentary comments about Geelong in February, when he said many of the city’s businesses depended on “affordable power”.
Continuous, baseload power from coal or gas-powered generators was essential to Australian “household and economic security” Ms Henderson said.
“With a significant amount of baseload generation being phased out over the next 15 years, we need to ensure we are prepared and have enough power to meet future needs,” she said.
Ms Henderson raised the experiences of South Australia, which has endured power failures after demolishing its last coal-fired plant and expanding its reliance on renewable energy sources.
“Our priority is to ensure all Australians have access to reliable and affordable energy supplies,” Ms Henderson said.
Victoria closed one of its last four coal-fired plants, Hazelwood, earlier this year. The state Coalition has warned the closure would lead to higher electricity prices.
The Indy this month reported concerns at Viva Energy that rising power costs were hurting the company’s attempts to make Corio’s oil refinery viable. The refinery provides employment for about 700 staff and contractors.
