HIGH power prices are a “jobs killer” across the region and the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) is doing little to address “sky-high” costs, Calare MP Andrew Gee says.
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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s energy policy, the NEG, aims to formulate a plan that puts Australia on the path to build its future energy network.
Fairfax Media understands it may be introduced to parliament as early as next week.
“While the NEG provides emission and reliability guarantees, I don’t believe it tackles the key element of power prices in a meaningful enough way,” Mr Gee said.
“To put it bluntly, I think the modelling on power price forecasts within the NEG is shaky.”
Mr Gee is one of a number of MPs who may cross the floor and vote against the policy in parliament.
While the NEG provides emission and reliability guarantees, I don’t believe it tackles the key element of power prices in a meaningful enough way.
“As a result of the failure of the NEG to deal with my concerns over sky-rocketing power prices, I’m reserving my right to cross the floor on the issue,” he said.
Mr Gee said people across the Calare electorate and Australia were being hit hard by sky-high power prices and he had “serious reservations” about the NEG having an impact on costs.
“It’s hitting pensioners, families and also local businesses. In short, high power prices are a jobs killer in regional areas,” he said.
- READ MORE: What is the NEG and what will it do?
“For many months I have been calling on the policy-makers within the federal government to look at ways of better addressing the issue of soaring power prices.
“I feel very frustrated that those concerns, which are the concerns of the people I represent, have not been adequately dealt with so far.”
I feel very frustrated that those concerns, which are the concerns of the people I represent, have not been adequately dealt with so far.
Mr Gee said he had attended two meetings with the Prime Minister this week to discuss how the NEG could be improved, but “unfortunately nothing has been resolved”.
“I’ve also asked for a copy of the legislation we are going to be voting on, but I haven’t been provided with a copy – which I was also disappointed with.”
Mr Gee said at the moment it looked like the system was being gamed by power companies who were “shorting the market”.
“What we are seeing is a massive transfer of wealth from individuals and companies to big power corporations,” he said.
“If we as a nation can’t do better than this and find a lasting solution to spiralling energy prices, then to me it will represent a failure of politics in this country.”
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