Federal no-show delays Victoria’s offshore wind ambitions

Today Environment Victoria called out the Albanese government for being missing in action on supporting Victoria’s nascent offshore wind industry, as it was announced that the state’s first offshore wind auction will not go ahead in September as planned.

This comes only a day after the Federal government’s National Climate Risk Assessment warned of soaring heat-related deaths and other devastating impacts if Australia fails to rapidly cut emissions.

Victoria’s old coal-burning power stations are not only making climate change worse, they are dangerously unreliable. In the last three months, all four units at Yallourn power station have had serious unplanned outages. Between last October and March, Loy Yang A recorded 13 outages. Offshore wind is a crucial part of Victoria’s future renewable energy fleet.

Environment Victoria has also called on the Victorian government to implement the Western Port Framework to ensure that the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal and other developments in this region properly manage the environment. Implementing The Western Port Framework would provide certainty for both communities and developers by ensuring a community endorsed strategy, a marine spatial plan, and ongoing funding for the care of Western Port’s precious, internationally significant wetlands.

Environment Victoria’s Senior Climate and Energy Advisor, Dr Kat Lucas-Healey, said:

“With Victoria’s coal power stations on their last legs, it’s past time for the Albanese government to show it is serious about ending fossil fuels, by backing a clean energy future and creating good jobs in Gippsland. What is Canberra waiting for?

“In the same week that the Albanese government released the grim National Climate Risk Assessment, and is expected to announce Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction targets, they are stalling at the starting line.”

“Whatever our emissions targets, Australia will need offshore wind to meet them, and it is action that matters. Failing to show up when offshore wind is ready to get moving, and approving carbon bombs like Woodside’s North West Shelf gas plant, is condemning our kids to a dangerous climate.”

“The Victorian government should implement a strategic framework for Western Port to demonstrate to the community that this ecosystem is being properly cared for and to increase certainty for offshore wind developers.”