Australia is in a deep energy crisis. Power bills are out of control, pollution is rising and the Liberals haven’t been able to agree on an energy policy for five years.
That’s why yesterday we announced Labor’s plan to fix the Liberals’ energy crisis, deliver cheaper renewable energy and more jobs.
A Shorten Labor Government will drive new investment in renewable energy generation and storage and transform Australia’s energy supply systems.
All the energy reports over the last few years have clearly outlined the biggest barrier to lower power bills has been the lack of energy policy.
And our preference is still to achieve bipartisan agreement on energy policy with the Liberals. But while we are prepared to work with the Liberals, we will not wait for them.
Our Plan for more renewables and cheaper power includes a ten-year energy investment plan that delivers certainty for industry, lower power prices and more reliability.
Our energy plan will end the power privatisation mess, stop over charging by power companies, future proof our energy network, and plan the transition to renewables by supporting a just transition for workers.
A Shorten Labor Government will also slash Australians power bills by setting a new national target of one million household battery installations by 2025 — with our Household Battery Program providing a $2,000 rebate for 100,000 households on incomes of less than $180,000 per year.
This is good for consumers — giving them more control over their power bills, as well as lowering power prices and improving reliability for all Australians by reducing demand on the electricity grid in peak times.
Labor will also open up access to renewable energy for households currently cut out of the solar revolution — like renters, apartment, and public housing tenants — through Labor’s $100 million Neighbourhood Renewables Program.
Labor is for firmed, affordable renewables — cheaper and cleaner electricity for Aussie households will help achieve our target of 50 per cent of power from renewables by 2030.
This opinion piece was first published on The Daily Telegraph website, Friday, 23 November 2018.