No Energy price cuts, no jobs — Minister can’t explain either

On Friday at PAEC Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio was asked why Victoria is missing out on the retail price falls and freezes being offered in South Australia, Queensland and NSW from July 1 2018.

The Minister responded it was because Victoria’s annual price increase occurs in January each year.

However, the Essential Services Commission (ESC) Retail Distribution Code allows Victorian energy retailers to alter their prices every 6 months, meaning Victoria could’ve participated in the July price cuts had the Minister intervened.

Other states will be enjoying energy bill falls in a matter of weeks, but Victorians will continue to pay $300 more for electricity according to the St Vincent’s de Paul Society.

Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources, David Southwick MP:

“It’s not unreasonable for Victorians to expect their Energy Minister to know why other states are getting electricity price falls but we aren’t.

“Victorians average electricity bill has gone up by over $300 in a year and this Minister can’t explain why we are paying through the nose but NSW are getting price cuts.

“Because Labor doesn’t understand how our energy market works, Victorian customers will be subsiding the price falls being enjoyed by other states.”

Ms D’Ambrosio also was unable to confirm what share of construction jobs on renewable energy projects were going to local workers.

On the 23rd of August 2017, the Minister issued a release claiming around 325 jobs would be created across two solar farm projects in regional Victoria.

However, after concerns were raised by the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) that the construction jobs “promised” to them were instead going to foreign workers, Minister D’Ambrosio denied all responsibility for ensuring local workers got a fair share of the available construction jobs.

ETU State Secretary, Troy Gray has stated “there’s plenty of jobs in the renewable sector, just not for locals. How many millions in taxpayer subsidies can be spent on foreign backpackers and overseas profits before local workers even get a look in?”

Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources, David Southwick MP:

“You know Labor is in trouble when they can’t even deliver jobs for their own union mates.

“Labor is almost as quick to drop responsibility for jobs on its renewable projects as it is to claim them.

“Under Daniel Andrews, Victoria’s energy policy is a complete mess and everyday Victorian’s are forced to pay the price.”

Please download this press release as a PDF