WA Liberals would close coal-fired plants

WA’s two coal-fired power stations would close by 2025 and the state government would become carbon-neutral by 2030 under a radical policy unveiled by the Liberal opposition.

WA Liberal leader Zak Kirkup. Picture: Colin Murty

Western Australia’s two coal-fired power stations would close by 2025 and the state government would become carbon-neutral by 2030 under a radical policy unveiled by the Liberal opposition.

In a departure from the federal government’s own climate policies, Liberal leader Zak ­Kirkup unveiled a sweeping plan to cut emissions and bolster ­investment in renewable energy.

Mr Kirkup promised $400m of direct investment by a Liberal government into what he said would be the largest renewable energy project in Australia’s ­history. He said a Kirkup government would look to attract private sector investment in a multi-billion-dollar hydrogen facility, compared the plans with the efforts of former Liberal premiers to get the North West Shelf liquefied natural gas plant off the ground and grow WA’s iron ore industry

“This is exactly in the vision of Sir Charles Court and Sir David Brand — it’s in the Liberal Party DNA to make sure we position WA for the future,” he said. “It is ambitious, but it is obviously something we need to do or we will be left behind.”

The plans would see the state-owned Muja and Collie power plants — which account for more than 80 per cent of the government’s emissions — close in the next few years. Some $100m will be allocated to help transition coal workers into other sectors. Mr Kirkup denied the policy would put the WA branch of the Liberal Party at odds with the Morrison government.

Scott Morrison last month said he wanted Australia to get to net zero “as soon as possible” and “preferably by 2050”, his strongest stance on a target to date.

The WA net-zero target is only for the government, not for private enterprise.

“The reality is that the Prime Minister has set an ambitious target for where Australia needs to be. What we’re saying is that as a state government we have a target now of 2030,” Mr Kirkup said. “Ultimately, what we know is the country needs to move towards those targets. I’m in full support of the work the Prime Minister has done, there’s a ­national consideration there and I fully support it.”

The plans were slammed by WA Premier Mark McGowan, who said they would be disastrous for the state. “All it would mean is many, many billions of extra debt, a huge increase in family power bills, rolling blackouts across the state and huge job losses,” he said.

“The time frame they’ve put on their policy is totally unachievable and everyone should be very fearful about what they’ve just put forward.”

WA is home to substantial ­existing and planned renewable energy projects developed by the private sector, while there are several active proposals for the development of hydrogen.

The Asian Renewable Energy Hub, which is expected to cover 6500sq km of the Pilbara, proposes using wind and solar to produce hydrogen for domestic and export markets.

The Liberal policy won the support of the Conservation Council of WA, which said the power stations were damaging the climate. “The policy shows that action on climate change and renewable energy does not need to be held back any longer by partisan politicking,” director Piers Verstegen said. “Cutting pollution and creating jobs, and growing a cleaner and stronger economy, simply makes sense.”