Energy policy
Richard RIORDAN (Polwarth) (09:52): I rise this morning to put on the record for my electorate the dire warnings that the Australian Energy Market Operator have put out to the community in today’s press but have been trumpeting now for quite some time. Victoria’s energy stability is heading into crisis mode. This government, the Labor government, has failed to systematically organise in a clear, transparent way the way renewable energy will power this state into the future. We are seeing incredibly long delays in getting infrastructure in place, such as transmission lines and other infrastructure, to make sure that the energy will be there into the future. Why is this important? Because an electorate like Polwarth relies heavily on an energy supply that is regular, uninterrupted and affordable. Whether it is the dairy industry, the timber industry or agricultural manufacturing, they all rely on endless, reliable, available, accessible energy all the time. It is simply not going to be good enough, and as we come to this summer, when the wind comes into its lighter patterns, with less available energy into the market, we simply cannot leave our tourism communities without power along the coast. Every day lost in kitchens and along the tourist roads is money and income lost to people at crucial, busy times. The dairy industry likewise needs to operate at 3 or 4 o’clock every day. The energy crisis is real. This government is asleep at the wheel, and we need a policy that works.