One Nation has today announced it would cancel renewable energy projects across Australia, including offshore wind in Gippsland if elected in Victoria.
With the Yallourn coal fired power station set to close by 2028, offshore wind represents a significant jobs boost for Gippsland that would create an estimated 600 permanent jobs and as many as 5,000 jobs for contractors and businesses during the construction phase. It will provide essential new electricity supply as the coal station closes.
“Local industry are already preparing for thousands of jobs in offshore wind. How will One Nation explain taking away these opportunities from local businesses and workers?” asked Wendy Farmer, President of Voices of the Valley and Friends of the Earth Gippsland Organiser. “These decisions would deny Victoria of energy. Distributed energy will give Victoria reliable, affordable energy, which will support communities facing cost of living pressure”.
“One Nation’s pledge to cancel offshore wind would represent nothing but another broken jobs promise for Gippsland” said Farmer.
“When it comes to nuclear, everything has to go right to make it work but only one thing needs to go wrong for it to become a disaster,” said Wendy Farmer.
“How will One Nation possibly build nuclear, the most expensive and riskiest form of energy generation, when it is banned in every state?”
“The Latrobe Valley power stations in the Latrobe Valley have been clear with the community. They have shared their plans for the future for their sites with the community.
One Nation have made these statements but it appears that they haven't even bothered to speak with the operators or owners of these sites. All of the power stations in the Latrobe Valley already have plans for new forms of energy on site like battery storage.”