A future Liberal and Nationals Government will keep the lights on and prices low by throwing open the door to new gas supplies and cancelling Labor's botched VNI West project.
Only a Liberal and Nationals Government will value prime agricultural land and the livelihood of farmers and regional communities equally with our urban centres.
Under Labor, Victoria is facing imminent energy shortfalls from mid-2028 following the expected closure of the Yallourn power station.
Labor's proposed solution - VNI West - has blown out from an initial cost of $2 billion to as much as $11 billion and, together with other transmission lines, will add more than $600 a year more on Victorians energy bills. Worse still, it won't be ready for the expected closure of Yallourn as was originally intended leaving Victorians without a secure energy supply.
A future Liberal and Nationals Government will not waste billions on a project that won't help keep the lights on and will cancel VNI West. The Liberals and Nationals will not allow regional communities and farmers bear the brunt of poor decisions out of Melbourne that reduce our state's economic and agricultural output.
Our team has a comprehensive plan to secure our energy supply and keep prices low. A future Liberal and Nationals Government will:
- Scrap Labor's gas ban and restore energy choice for households and businesses
- Throw open the doors to new conventional gas projects
- Establish an Energy Security Requirement to underpin new firm generation, to be led by new gas-fired generation
- Repeal Labor's divisive compulsory acquisition powers and fines for farmers who refuse access to their land therefore protecting private property rights; and
- Introduce new urban solar parks to encourage solar and battery installations on commercial and industrial rooftops.
Leader of the Opposition, Jess Wilson, said: "Under Labor, Victorians face energy shortfalls and higher prices but my team has a plan to fix it.
"Victoria doesn't need more unnecessary poles and wires that bulldoze through regional communities, it needs more gas and more firm generation and that is exactly what my team will deliver.
"Regional communities need to know that I have their back, that my Liberal and Nationals team have their back and that we reject Labor's plans to decimate agriculture and private property rights in this state.
"A Liberal and Nationals Government will cancel VNI West and take immediate action to secure more gas for our state - meaning lower prices and a secure energy future."
Leader of The Nationals, Danny O'Brien, said: "Labor has spent years bulldozing through the concerns of regional communities to force VNI West onto farmers who have been treated with appalling disrespect.
"An elected Liberal and Nationals Government will scrap VNI West, repeal Labor's compulsory acquisition powers, and end the fines Labor has threatened and issued against farmers who just want the right to protect their own private property."
Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, David Davis, said: "The Liberals and Nationals have a practical plan to secure Victoria's energy future.
"Labor's VNI West and other transmission lines will add $600 a year to energy bills and won't help keep the lights once Yallourn is due to close.
"Victorians can't afford to wait for delayed, over-budget transmission projects while Labor gambles with our energy security. Our priority is making sure the lights stay on."
