Darren Chester MP

July 27, 2010

The Brumby Government’s Climate Change White Paper, which includes plans for a staged closure of the Hazelwood Power Station, provides no long term job security for workers in the Latrobe Valley, The Nationals Member for Morwell Russell Northe said today.

“John Brumby plans to close two of the eight units at Hazelwood Power Station in the next four years but he has failed to guarantee that jobs will be protected as part of the closures,” Mr Northe said.

“More than 800 people rely on work generated by the Hazelwood Power Station and so a planned closure without an appropriate alternative will have devastating consequences in the Latrobe Valley.

July 23, 2010

The Rudd-Gillard Government which failed to properly consult Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley over its failed Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will now develop a “citizens’ assembly” to take over decision-making on the issue.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has criticised Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s proposal for a 150 strong committee to debate the future of the ‘big new tax’.

Mr Chester said Gippslanders would find it remarkable that a government which had refused to consult locals on the impacts of its ETS had developed another delaying tactic.

June 2, 2010

Despite being shelved until 2013, the Rudd Labor Government’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) continues to create uncertainty in the Latrobe Valley power industry.

TRUenergy has confirmed that a proposed $1.3 billion gas-fired power station to be built in Yallourn adjacent to its coal-fired plant will not be operational until 2015. Originally TRUenergy indicated that the plant could be operational as early as 2013.

The delay comes after the Rudd Labor Government deferred plans to introduce an ETS until 2013 after the Coalition twice defeated the legislation in Federal Parliament.

April 28, 2010

The Rudd Labor Government still plans to introduce a massive new tax that would cost up to 3000 jobs in Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley, according to The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.

Mr Chester said the Labor Party’s decision to defer the introduction of an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) until at least 2013, only amounted to a ‘stay of execution’.

“The ETS isn’t dead yet,” Mr Chester said.

April 28, 2010

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says it remains to be seen whether the Federal Government’s promise to provide an additional $40 million to the Calera project at Yallourn, ever comes to fruition.

Mr Chester has cautiously welcomed the announcement of additional funding for the project but stressed that it is conditional upon successful trials of new technology that captures carbon dioxide emissions and turns it into building products.

The mineral carbonation project at TRUEnergy’s Yallourn site uses CO2 captured from the power station to make cement and aggregate material.

February 11, 2010

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has told Federal Parliament that almost 3000 jobs would be lost in Gippsland by 2025 under the Rudd Labor Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS).

Speaking in Parliament this week, Mr Chester referred to an independent report prepared for Wellington Shire Council which indicated that Gippsland had several industries which would be directly affected by the scheme. The report included a forecast about the difference in employment in the municipalities of Wellington, Latrobe Valley and East Gippsland by 2025 compared to what would occur in the absence of Labor’s CPRS.

“In the case of the no-international-trade scenario, employment across the three areas will be down by almost 3000 jobs in 2025 compared with a base case of no CPRS and output would be $325 million lower,” the report states.

February 2, 2010

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says the Coalition’s plan for direct action on the environment and climate change includes access to a $40 million fund to help develop the Latrobe Valley as a ‘Clean Energy Employment Hub’ to drive new research and development.

Mr Chester said the policy announced today provided a clear alternative to Kevin Rudd’s massive new tax which would increase the cost of living for households with price increases for electricity, petrol, food and everyday essentials. 

The Coalition plan involves sensible and practical environmental measures such as improving soil productivity on farms, tree planting and installing one million additional solar systems.

November 27, 2009

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says Liberal Senators should ‘do the sensible thing’ and defer the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) legislation until after the Copenhagen summit.

Mr Chester said he would continue to fight against the Rudd Labor Government’s scheme which he believes is ‘not in the best interests of Gippslanders and the nation’.

“Australia’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is just 1.4% and it makes no sense for us to introduce this massive new tax without any regard for the actions of countries such as the United States, China and India,” Mr Chester said.

November 23, 2009

Victorians are being warned they face the prospect of blackouts and power shortages if the Rudd Labor Government implements its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) legislation without taking measures to protect the future viability of Latrobe Valley generators.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has repeatedly highlighted his concerns over the future reliability of power supplies and media reports today have indicated that Victorian Premier John Brumby has also written to the Prime Minister on the issue. The Premier is reported to have ‘pleaded with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to provide billions of dollars in extra compensation to the state’s coal-fired power stations’ in order to keep them viable.

Mr Chester said the Rudd Labor Government had failed to address the concerns of Victorians in regards to the security of future power supply, preferring to push the ETS legislation through Parliament as part of a political point scoring strategy.

November 10, 2009

A secret report commissioned by the Rudd Labor Government has warned of a grim future for coal-fired power stations and vindicates growing fears of job losses in the Latrobe Valley as a result of the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS).

Leading investment bank Morgan Stanley gained top-level access to the balance sheets of Latrobe Valley power stations and found they will need billions of dollars in extra compensation to survive the introduction of a CPRS in 2011.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has challenged the Government to release the full details of the report after media coverage claimed Victoria faces power shortages and possible closure of Latrobe Valley power stations if the CPRS proceeds as planned.