5 years ago
AEMO AND ACCC CONFIRM TAYLOR ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL
MARK BUTLER MP
After six years of Liberal energy policy chaos, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and the ACCC have confirmed that the Morrison Government’s energy crisis is continuing.
AEMO’s annual Electricity Statement of Opportunities has confirmed that “investment will be required in a portfolio of resources ahead of time to replace retiring capacity”. Yet the Morrison Government still refuses to deliver the stable national energy policy needed to remove uncertainty and support the investment needed to bring power prices down and secure reliable supply.
Already this week we’ve seen Australia’s biggest gold miner and biggest steel maker lamenting the state of Australia’s energy market under Scott Morrison.
Now we see AEMO confirming the government’s chaos is not only forcing prices higher, but also a threat to energy reliability as ageing coal plants become increasingly unreliable and face inevitable retirement.
Energy Minister Angus Taylor still refuses to hold a COAG Energy Council meeting to address barriers to investment and modernisation in the electricity market because states are calling on him to resurrect his government’s dumped National Energy Guarantee to address fundamental policy uncertainty. Rather than deliver real leadership, the Liberals are pushing forward with their 15th energy policy; the fanciful idea of a dangerous and expensive nuclear power industry.
At the same time, the ACCC has confirmed that Australian users are still paying too much for gas, above $10 Gigajoule (Gj), putting jobs and businesses at risk. The ACCC also confirms that while Australia is the world’s largest gas exporter, Australian gas users are paying more for their gas than users in other exporting countries. This is after the Morrison Government and Centre Alliance hailed an agreement on gas policy that would deliver prices of $7 Gj for Australian users.
The Morrison Government’s chaotic, anti-renewables approach to energy policy will not deliver reliable, affordable or clean energy for Australia. Their energy crisis has already seen wholesale electricity prices rise by 158 percent and gas prices triple. Australians can only expect more chaos, higher prices, less reliability and more pollution under this failed Energy Minister and Government.
AEMO’s annual Electricity Statement of Opportunities has confirmed that “investment will be required in a portfolio of resources ahead of time to replace retiring capacity”. Yet the Morrison Government still refuses to deliver the stable national energy policy needed to remove uncertainty and support the investment needed to bring power prices down and secure reliable supply.
Already this week we’ve seen Australia’s biggest gold miner and biggest steel maker lamenting the state of Australia’s energy market under Scott Morrison.
Now we see AEMO confirming the government’s chaos is not only forcing prices higher, but also a threat to energy reliability as ageing coal plants become increasingly unreliable and face inevitable retirement.
Energy Minister Angus Taylor still refuses to hold a COAG Energy Council meeting to address barriers to investment and modernisation in the electricity market because states are calling on him to resurrect his government’s dumped National Energy Guarantee to address fundamental policy uncertainty. Rather than deliver real leadership, the Liberals are pushing forward with their 15th energy policy; the fanciful idea of a dangerous and expensive nuclear power industry.
At the same time, the ACCC has confirmed that Australian users are still paying too much for gas, above $10 Gigajoule (Gj), putting jobs and businesses at risk. The ACCC also confirms that while Australia is the world’s largest gas exporter, Australian gas users are paying more for their gas than users in other exporting countries. This is after the Morrison Government and Centre Alliance hailed an agreement on gas policy that would deliver prices of $7 Gj for Australian users.
The Morrison Government’s chaotic, anti-renewables approach to energy policy will not deliver reliable, affordable or clean energy for Australia. Their energy crisis has already seen wholesale electricity prices rise by 158 percent and gas prices triple. Australians can only expect more chaos, higher prices, less reliability and more pollution under this failed Energy Minister and Government.