Vales Point Power Station Not so Worthless Anymore

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Vales Point Power Station on the edge of Lake Macquarie was meant to shut its doors in 2021, but now it's been revealed it won't shut until 2029 and its worth $729 million more than it was bought for.

The coal-fired power station has certainly made plenty of money since it was bought in November 2015 for just $1 million by Sunset Power who are operating the station under the old Delta Electricity name.

At the time of the sale, the ABC reports the Berejiklian government played down the sale of the power station because they believed it was worthless.

Now the massive jump in price has been referred to the Auditor-General.

The power station is quite large, responsible for 11 per cent of the state's electricity, but it's also one of the biggest pollutants in the country emitting 10 million tonnes of pollution each year.

Greens Energy Spokesperson Adam Bandt believes it needs to be shut down, but the flip flopping of energy policy in government is making that impossible.

Vales Point Power Station Image Wikipedia

"There is so much chaos in the electricity market and the electricity system under this government. People are clinging to these old assets no matter how polluting and how near the end of their life they are."

With no firm renewable energy policy from the government, Adam Bandt said everyone is clinging onto their old assets which are increasing in value, making companies more money, but the consumer's power bills more expensive.

"Now these coal-fired power stations are being rewarded for running their plant into the ground and staying open even longer and that's in large part because the government has made the whole of this area so uncertain that we haven't had the new investments in renewables that we need,"

"The choice is Malcolm Turnbull's. Are you going to start now putting your foot on the accelerator and built more renewables so we can close this coal-fired power station? Or are you actively going to make people dip into their pockets and subsidise it so that these coal barons can sit on an asset worth $730 million dollars that they paid $1 million for?" said Adam Bandt.

He also adds the power station is only going to get older and start to struggle to operate, particularly in the heat.

"No Coal Joel" slams Government for 'Liddell Hoax'

BY MICHAEL COOK

After pushing for the life of AGL's Liddell power station to be extended by 10 years, the Turnbull Government now seems to have turned its back on the proposition.

The potential extension of the Muswellbrook  power station to 2032 was earmarked to cost around $900 million but is now off the table.

In a major energy speech on Monday by Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg, there was no mention of the power station's extension, all but confirming it is no longer on the agenda for the government.

In the speech, Frydenberg looked instead to AGL's cleaner energy investment plan as the right way forward in energy policy.

Liddell Power Station
Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/8877002-3x2-700x467.jpg

Federal Member for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon, who Frydenberg referred to as "No Coal Joel" in a recent Parliament House spat, is disappointed in the way the Prime Minister has gone about this issue.

"What Malcolm Turnbull did was raise false hope, he wanted people to believe he can extend Liddell to get him through the next election campaign.

"He's been caught out, thank goodness I think he's now getting out of the way and letting us work with AGL to create the jobs of the future," Fitzgibbon said.

The move away from the extension may signal a shift in electricity regeneration in the area as well as nationwide. 

AGL Commits To Meeting Energy Needs Without Liddell Power Station

BY IAN CROUCH

The head of AGL says they're committed to finding a solution to Australia's energy crisis without extending the life of the Liddell Power Station near Muswellbrook.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull met with Chief Executive, Andy Vesey in a bid to keep the coal-fired power station open beyond it's planned 2022 closure.

AGL Chief Executive Andy Vesey

Energy Minister, Josh Frydenberg says Andy Vesey agreed to ask the company's board to consider delaying the closure or selling the power station.


"There will be a supply shortfall in the market if Liddell closes. That is why Prime Minister Turnbull is taking responsibility to ensure that the market doesn't have that shortfall," he said

Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg

Andy Vesey has promised to provide a plan on actions AGL plans to take to avoid a market shortfall once Liddell is retired in 2022.

Hunter MP, Joel Fitzgibbon says Andy Vesey has it right and the government needs to get out of the way.

"Andy Vesey shares my vision to build a new energy hub n the Upper Hunter - a mix of coal, gas, pumped hydro and large-scale renewables. That's what will keep the jobs in the future. That's what will put downward pressure on energy prices," he said.

Hunter Mp, Joel Fitzgibbon

Temporary work visa replacement scheme could affect Hunter workers

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Temporary work visas, or 457 visas, will be a thing of the past with Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull announcing the visa would be replaced by two new visas.

Foreign workers take up a lot of work in regional areas like the Hunter, particularly in the health sector, and there are fears the new scheme will either create more jobs, or leave jobs without anyone to fill them. 

It's likely 200 fewer industries will be able to access overseas staff and there will be stricter conditions placed on those who do come to Australia to work under two new visas.

Member for the Hunter Joel FitzGibbon says the system was being wroughted, but he questions whether the new reforms will actually prove to make a difference.

"Jobs were going to foreigners which could have been filled by local people - now Malcom Turnbull has been sitting on his hands and knees for years, and whether he has now successfully really moved to fix it is a question we still don't know the answer to," said Joel FitzGibbon.

The Prime Minister says the reforms will focus on "Australian jobs and Australian values" giving Aussies the chance to get more work.

Image www.theaustralian.com.au

Current visa holders won't be affected by the changes.

"Well is this is genuine change, I welcome it. But Malcom Turnbull has given us none of the details about his new visa scheme, there is no doubt 457's were being wroughted costing Australians jobs," said Joel FitzGibbon.

Government failing Hunter on energy: MP

BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT

The federal government have no idea what the Hunter's energy providers are facing, and lack the plans to move providers into the future, Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon said.

During Thursday's parliamentary Question Time, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told the House of Representatives that Labor had a plan to close coal-fired electricity generators across the Hunter.

However, Mr Fitzgibbon said "nothing could be further from the truth".

"The Hunter's major coal-fired power generators are reaching the end of their commercial lives, we'd known this for a long time," he said.

Mr Fitzgibbon shouting "rubbish" at Mr Turnbull in Question Time on Thursday

He has accused the federal government, especially Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, of not having a plan to transition the region away from coal-fired generators.

"It's extraordinary how Barnaby Joyce represents the upper parts of the Hunter, but doesn't seem to understand that our power generators are coming to the end of their useful life," he said.

"We need a transition plan to retain jobs and to retain our reputation as the powerhouse of New South Wales, but, sadly, he and Malcolm Turnbull have no plan."

Mr Fitzgibbon's defence came after Question Time on Thursday, where Mr Turnbull, responding to a question about negative gearing from Opposition Leader Bill Shorten made the claim that Labor wanted to close down coal-fired power stations.

"The Member for Hunter represents an electorate - the jobs in which are based on energy, on affordable energy," Mr Turnbull said.

Mr Turnbull in Question Time on Thursday

"He is a member of a party that wants to shut it all down."

Mr Fitzgibbon can be clearly heard yelling "rubbish" multiple times after Mr Turnbull made the claim, prompting him to be formally warned by House Speaker Tony Smith.

The Prime Minister's meandering tangent from negative gearing to coal-fired power generators in the Hunter Valley made Mr Smith also accept Mr Shorten's point of order on relevance.

Instead of return to negative gearing, the Prime Minister continued addressing power concerns in the Hunter, turning the attention to Paterson MP Meryl Swanson.

Ms Swanson's inaudible interjections were heard in the House.

$15 million for Testers Hollow

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A re-elected Turnbull government will commit $15 million to elevating Cessnock Road at Testers Hollow.

Minister for Major Projects Paul Fletcher alongside Liberal Candidate for Paterson Karen Howard, announced this morning that the funding is available and will cover 80 per-cent of the full cost of the project.

The minister says he is confident the funding will successfully mitigate flood risk in the area.

"The flood events of the kind that we saw last year will be very much mitigated. This is a plan so that residents, for example here in Gillieston Heights, won't face the same risk of being cut off for several days as occurred last year."

The growing suburb of Gillieston Heights was cut off for six days after devastating floods left them isolated in April last year.

"I want to emphasise, every commitment we make falls within our overall plan and our budgetary commitments. This commitment that we're making today, this commitment to spend $15 million in elevating Cessnock Road at Testers Hollow meets and fits within our overall plan."

PM Hints At Property Buybacks For Properties Affected By Chemical Contamination.

BY IAN CROUCH

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has hinted the government will consider voluntaryy acquisition for properties affected by the firefighting foam contamination crisis, such as those at Williamtown.

During a radio interview yesterday, the Prime Minister was quizzed about the Oakey Army Base contamination in Queensland, saying the government would consider property acquisition once the interim health reference values had been established and the environmental investigation had concluded.

Although referring only to Oakey during the interview, a spokesman for the Defence Minister has hinted the same parameters would also apply to Williamtown.

Malcolm Turnbull

Williamtown contamination battleground for pre-poll

BY JARROD MELMETH

The Williamtown contamination crisis has become the battleground for Paterson's Liberal candidate Karen Howard and Labor Candidate Meryl Swanson, after the Coalition government pledged to spend part of $55 million dollars from the existing Defence budget on managing the chemical contamination.

The funding comes 2 weeks after Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, Julie Bishop visiting the affected Williamtown zones.

Williamtown contamination zone. Photo courtesy of
The Newcastle Herald.

Karen Howard says following this visit, the government has listened and the government has acted.

As part of the funding, the government will conduct an epidemiological study that will look at the health effects, causes and potential patterns of those exposed to elevated levels of PFOS and PFOA.

The package also includes voluntary blood testing for residents within the investigation zone as well as connecting Williamtown properties to town water.

A community liaison officer will also be appointed to help connect residents to allocated mental health services.

It comes after Labor's recent announcement of a $21 million action plan to address the contamination.

Meryl Swanson says it is pleasing to see the government have finally stepped up to the mark following Labor's lead on this.

"It's taken Labour to take the lead on this and finally they're [The Coalition] coming out at five minutes to midnight before the election."

The ALP have previously promised to fund blood tests, perform studies on the area and further financially support commercial fishers.

Prime Minister Pledges Remediation Package for Williamtown

BY IAN CROUCH

 The Williamtown RAAF Base contamination crisis has become a key battleground for the federal election.

Less than TWO weeks after Labor committed to funding voluntary blood testing and a taskforce to investigate remediation options, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has this morning pledged a re-elected Coalition government will commit $55-million to a remediation package at Williamtown and the Oakey base in Queensland.

The package includes voluntary blood testing for residents in the red zone, and a study looking into the causes and health effects of the fire fighting foam contamination.

A dedicated community liaison officer would also be appointed as part of new mental health and counseling services for residents.

Malcolm Turnbull