Opposition leader John Pessuto says he will keep Yallourn coal-fired power station open
Opposition leader John Pessuto has said he will extend the life of the Latrobe Valley’s Yallourn power station beyond its set closure date of 2028 if it keeps the lights on.
Victoria
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A Coalition government would extend the life of Victoria’s coal fired power stations if it meant keeping the lights, opposition leader John Pesutto has revealed.
As the state risks blackouts due to looming energy supply shortages, Mr Pesutto on Friday said he would keep Victoria’s second largest coal fired power station at Yallourn open beyond its scheduled closure in 2028 if it meant Victorians could access reliable energy.
“If it meant that Victorians were not going to be able to access power, of course,” he told 3AW on Friday.
“We in the coalition support a responsible and methodical transition, right, to see more renewables but not at the expense … of affordability and reliability of power.”
Mr Pesutto pointed to the NSW Labor government which announced that it would be extending the life of Australia’s biggest coal-fired power station for at least two more years.
NSW Premier Chris Minns on Thursday said the move would give certainty to residents that reliable energy would continue as the state transitions to a net-zero economy.
“The best way to undermine the renewable energy transition is to have the lights go out in 2025. I’m not letting that happen,” he said.
In 2021, former Premier Daniel Andrews announced the Latrobe Valley’s Yallourn power station would shut down four years early in 2028.
Loy Yang A — Victoria’s largest power station — is scheduled to close in 2035.
Mr Pesutto questioned whether Premier Jacinta Allan was now in talks with provider Energy Australia about extending the life of the Yallourn power station.
“Are we ready to see Yallourn exit?” he asked.
His comments come after Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio told a Public Accounts and Estimates hearing on Thursday that no permits for onshore gas exploration or extraction had been issued in 10 years because “there is no gas”.
Mr Pesutto questioned where Victoria would be getting its power from beyond 2028.
“So if there’s no gas, and wind and solar are not going to replace the exit of your Yallourn, what is their plan?” he said.
Asked what the Coalition’s plan was, Mr Pesutto firmly stated: “Our plan is gas”.
“We will look at what’s on the table in terms of permit applications,” he said.
“If we can put pressure to see gas come online now that will help Victorians.”
The Liberal leader said he would look to experts in the energy sector to devise a plan for further onshore gas exploration and extraction.
A state government spokeswoman said the government had not had discussions about keeping Yallourn open beyond 2028.
“John Pesutto is putting his head in the sand - gas supply is dwindling, prices are rising and exploration for new supply has been largely unsuccessful,” she said.
“The agreed closure of Yallourn and Loy Yang A gives the renewable energy industry both confidence and time to invest in Victoria, with guaranteed demand for their power.”
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