Victorian Liberals’ first 100 days plan a backwards vision

Environment Victoria has described Matthew Guy’s agenda for the first 100 days of a Liberal Government as a massive step backwards for the state’s environment if realised.

In the document ‘Our first 100 days’ the Liberals promise to:

• Introduce legislation to scrap the Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET)
• Begin work on a tender for construction of a new 500 MW power station, which is likely to be powered by burning coal or gas
• Introduce legislation to lift the moratorium on onshore conventional gas drilling

“The Liberals plan for their first 100 days comes straight out of the coal and gas lobby’s handbook. It’s a 1960s vision that won’t help us face up to 21st century challenges,” said Environment Victoria CEO Mark Wakeham.

“Aside from the complete disregard for our environment and our future, there is no logic to their plan. New gas and coal power stations are more expensive to run than the wind and solar farms that the Liberals want to prevent being built by scrapping the VRET.

“The Liberals’ plan will therefore increase power bills and destroy jobs in renewable energy industries across the state.

“Disappointingly, Matthew Guy has chosen to continue the Liberals’ war on renewable energy that cost them the seat of Wentworth in the recent by-election.

“This election will be a clear referendum on clean versus dirty energy.

“Based on the contact we’ve had with 100,000 Victorians in 6 key seats this election campaign, Mr Guy’s dirty energy plan will cost the Liberals votes and could well cost them the election.

“Victorians in places like Melbourne’s sandbelt overwhelmingly support renewable energy and want to move away from coal and gas.

“The Liberals political strategy to ignore community attitudes and instead side with big polluters could well come back to bite them come Saturday night,” said Mr Wakeham.