Energy policy
Mr NORTHE (Morwell) (09:51): I rise today to make some comments with respect to the Greens’ recent announcement that all of Victoria’s coal-fired power stations in the Latrobe Valley should close by 2030. Understandably I have received plenty of feedback on this harebrained idea, with many people extremely angry that Melbourne-based Greens would seek to introduce legislation that would cause untold emotional, social and economic harm on a community already dealing with its own unique challenges, including the proposed closure of the native timber industry by the same time frame. Now, I am not saying the transition from non-renewables to renewables is not a noble objective or that it should not happen, but it is the way we get there that is important to my community. We have the situation whereby the government is driving the car at high speed down the highway to close down Latrobe Valley-based coal-fired power stations, and the Greens are sitting in the back seat screaming at the government, ‘Are we there yet? Are we there yet?’. It is not just workers impacted by Greens policy; it is contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, businesses and the wider community.
Subsequently, they should answer the following questions, so we know the real impacts upon the Latrobe Valley. Has an economic, social or regulatory impact statement been completed? Where are the replacement jobs and what are they? Will there be a diminishing of disposable income across the community? Will there be mental health impacts as a result of this legislation? Will energy supply security be guaranteed? Will energy costs rise? Will the grid cope with this plan? These and many other questions ought to be answered by the Greens before they come out with city-based, harebrained policies that hurt regional communities like ours.