NSW teals panned for fossil fuels stance ahead of election showdown

NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts says teal independents’ “cultish drive” against fossil fuels will endanger people who rely on life support equipment to survive.

Senior Perrottet government Minister Anthony Roberts has unloaded on the teal independents, claiming their “cultish drive” to get out of fossil fuels ASAP is adding to instability in the power grid and endangering people who rely on life support equipment to survive.

Mr Roberts has also accused the climate-focused candidates of being out of touch, saying “not everyone can fly to Aspen to get out of the heat,” after it emerged that one of the teals was holidaying in the picturesque US ski resort town during our summer.

Betting markets indicate the most likely outcome of Saturday’s election is a minority Labor government, which would potentially deliver immense power to independents who win on the weekend.

Mr Roberts’ Lane Cove electorate is one of five Liberal-held seats being targeted by the Climate 200-backed movement in the state poll.

He is battling lawyer, mediator and businesswoman Victoria Davidson, who wants a 60 per cent cut in emissions by 2030, 80 per cent by 2035 and net zero five years later.

Independent candidate for Lane Cove Victoria Davidson. Picture: Supplied

She has also said the state must “get off gas”.

NSW Labor’s policy is a 50 per cent reduction in emissions by the end of this decade and net zero by 2050.

The Perrottet government has said it is on track to more than halve emissions by 2030. It also recently committed to a 70 per cent cut by 2035.

By having loftier green goals than the Morrison federal government did, the NSW Coalition has avoided an all-out teal attack.

But Mr Roberts is in the firing line, partly because of his support for fossil fuels.

In 2017, when he was Energy Minister, he brought a lump of coal into state parliament and placed it on the dispatch box while answering a question about a bill aimed at ensuring coal supplies to a NSW power plant.

Planning Minister Anthony Roberts. Picture: Gaye Gerard

At the time, he said 30,000 NSW people dependent on life support equipment needed “a secure energy network to survive.”

Energy security remains a problem in NSW, with the Australian Energy Regulator and Australian Energy Market Operator separately warning about their concerns last week.

Twice this month the AEMO has issued mid-level warnings about a lack of supply in NSW.

Mr Roberts on Monday told The Daily Telegraph: “We can’t have a cultish drive that creates an unstable marketplace and puts people’s lives at risk.”

Ms Davidson hit back, saying “Mr Roberts either does not understand how our power system works or is wilfully scaremongering. Either way he is out of touch with his Lane Cove community.

“I’m not here to represent the interests of fossil fuel lobby groups and, unlike Anthony Roberts, you won’t find me carrying a lump of coal into parliament,” she said.

“What we need is representatives in Macquarie Street who are committed to a well-planned, orderly transition to renewable energy that will improve the reliability of our current ageing fossil fuel dominated power infrastructure, as well as deliver cheaper, cleaner power.”

TAB betting has Mr Roberts at $1.20 to hold Lane Cove; Ms Davidson is second, at $4.50.

The other seats being targeted by Climate 200-backed candidates are North Shore, Manly, Wollondilly and Pittwater – which is the closest contest.

Pittwater has opened up following long-time Liberal member Rob Stokes’s decision to retire.

Former environmental lawyer Jacqui Scruby – who until recently was an adviser to federal teal MP Sophie Scamps – is at $2.20 to win, compared to the Coalition’s Rory Amon, who is at $1.60.

Mr Roberts’ Aspen dig was aimed at Ms Scruby, who in January took a holiday that included a visit to Aspen, Colorado. Ms Scruby’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment.