Nationals MP blasts public energy ownership plan

MEMBER for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien has spoken out against the State Government’s announcement to re-introduce the State Electricity Commission (SEC).

The Government declared they will bring back public ownership of energy resources by re-establishing the SEC if re-elected.

The government claims this will deliver cheaper power bills and lower emissions.

The SEC will be an active energy market participant to build new renewable energy projects.

Under the plan, the government will hold a controlling interest in each of those projects – renewables will replace coal, and these new ‘power stations’ will be owned by every Victorian.

The government will make an initial investment of $1 billion towards delivering 4.5 gigawatts of power.

The State will have a controlling interest, with the balance of funding invested from like-minded entities – such as industry super funds.

The government stated the new SEC will become an energy market proponent under a 10-year plan to deliver cleaner, cheaper energy, with all profits invested back into the network.

This will see an investment of at least $20 million to prepare the SEC for its new role in the energy market, including setting up an office in Morwell.

However, Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien took to social media last week criticising the government over the announcement.

“Labor is not proposing to “buy back” the power stations, it’s not planning to take back control of the poles and wires and it’s not going to go back to a single government retailer,” he said.

“It is planning to risk $1 billion of our money investing in renewables that the private sector has demonstrated it is already prepared to build - without taxpayer support.

“The promise to establish an SEC office in Morwell might be compared to the promise to establish 500 jobs at an electric vehicle factory at the last election - it never happened.

“Of course we are transitioning in Gippsland and the power stations won’t survive forever. But shutting them down early with no clear, demonstrated plan as to how we’ll keep the lights on is mad.”

The government has also set an emissions reduction target of 75-80 per cent by 2035, and will bring forward net zero emissions target by five years to 2045.

They claim these initiatives will increase Gross State Product by about $9.5 billion and support 59,000 jobs through to 2035.

For more information, visit: http://danandrews.com.au/energy