Premier

It’s Time For Abbott To Support Victorian Jobs And Renewables

16 June 2015

With a vote imminent on Tony Abbott’s decreased Renewable Energy Target, it’s time for the Federal Government to get out of the way and allow Victoria to support jobs and renewables.

While the Abbott Government continually tarnishes the renewable energy industry and attacks Victorian jobs, the Andrews Labor Government will continue to grow this vital future industry.

The scaling back of the RET will reduce the number of major renewable energy projects built in Victoria, costing us jobs and growth.

The Abbott Government has an opportunity this week to remove Section 7c from the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 (Cth), which will allow Victoria to have its own schemes similar to the RET.

In Victoria, we currently have 19 wind farms with a combined capacity of 2,489 megawatts (MW) that have planning approval but are yet to be commissioned.

This pipeline of wind projects, if fully developed, will result in an estimated investment of just under $5 billion and support as many as 2,638 jobs throughout regional Victoria.

The Labor Government is currently developing the Renewable Energy Action Plan, which will provide a comprehensive set of measures to attract Victoria’s share of the potential investment in renewable energy forecast to occur in Australia by 2020.

The Government has allocated $20 million for the New Energy Jobs Fund, that will drive investment in renewable energy technologies and projects.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio

“Tony Abbott needs to get his priorities right and stand up for Victorian jobs this week.”

“If Tony Abbott isn’t going to take this industry seriously, he should get out of the way, remove Section 7c and let Victorian have its own target.”

"While the Prime Minister is obsessed with how wind turbines look, local communities are getting behind our efforts to increase jobs and investment in regional Victoria.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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