Joint Statement - Victorians to pay for chaos in wind energy sector

Joint Statement – Victorians to pay for chaos in wind energy sector

David Davis, Shadow Minister for Energy, Affordability and Security

James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change

18 January 2024.

The exclusion of a respected wind energy provider from the Federal Government’s offshore wind development in Victoria has further highlighted the chaos in the sector.

Flotation Energy was excluded by the Commonwealth despite it having been supported with $2 million of Victorian taxpayers’ money. It is a Scottish company now owned by Tokyo Electric Power Company and has access to significant expertise and resources including wind projects in Scotland.

Shadow Minister for Energy, Energy Affordability and Security, David Davis, said the decision would add more pressure on the Allan Government to achieve its offshore wind energy targets

“Why has federal minister Chris Bowen cut Flotation Energy out of the Gippsland wind region licences? What representations did the Victorian Minister for Energy, Lily D’Ambrosio,  make on behalf of the company supported by a Victorian government grant?

“Was the Victorian government consulted before the Commonwealth made its decisions given they need to be working in unison to achieve the best outcomes for Victoria?

“Given the debacle last week with the Commonwealth Government blocking the Hastings based project to assemble windfarms favoured by the Allan Government, this further blow puts these projects in more strife.

“This is likely to lead to further delays and energy cost pressures on businesses and families in a cost-of-living crisis.”

Shadow Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, James Newbury, said: “These new revelations will make it harder for Victoria to achieve the offshore wind targets set by the State Labor Government.

“The Labor Government’s offshore wind policy is a shambles with Jacinta Allan and her Ministers completely out of their depth, as Ministers dodge for cover and blame shift.

“The offshore wind policy in Victoria is falling apart. It is not chaos under Labor, under the stewardship of the hopeless Minister Lily D’Ambrosio. The policy mess has national implications and will increase energy costs for every Victorian.”

David Davis, Shadow Minister for Energy, Affordability and Security

James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change