The Cook Labor Government’s approach to energy is leaving Western Australian families vulnerable, with a misguided plan that undermines energy security and affordability.

In 2022, the WA Labor Government unveiled their energy transition plan, pledging no new fossil fuel power stations would be built,

As part of Labor’s commitment to a cleaner energy future, they announced that 1,000MW of reliable coal baseload generation would be closed by 2030.

With no viable replacement strategy in place, experts and industry alike raised concerns over the government’s ideology-driven accelerated closure of coal-fired power.

Just a year later, the Cook Labor Government reversed their position, signalling additional gas capacity might be necessary to maintain the stability of the grid.

This sudden reversal highlights the government’s need for a clear, consistent strategy and raises further doubts about the reliability of their energy policy.

The Cook Labor Government’s current plan depends on unproven technologies that have yet to be developed, putting the stability of the state’s energy grid at serious risk.

Instead of addressing these immediate needs, they are pursuing unrealistic goals without a foundation in practical, deliverable energy solutions.

Western Australians deserve better than rising power bills and an unstable grid.

The WA Liberal Party is committed to a responsible and achievable energy transition.

Reliability and affordability are integral, and we need to ensure coal power remains until viable replacements are operational.

This will mean developing new gas generation capacity to maintain baseload security and investing in renewable store solutions as they become feasible.

Only a WA Liberal Government will deliver it.

The Liberal Party believes in a transition to a clean energy future that keeps the lights on, and at a cost that consumers can afford.

The WA Liberals are committed to meeting our target of being carbon neutral by 2050 – but it cannot come at the cost of reliability or affordability for Western Australian families.

Our energy transition needs to be underpinned by reliable affordable energy which means using coal and gas generation until we can deliver a low-emission future.

The Liberals are committed to investing in renewable capacity and storage, beyond what has been promised by the Cook Labor Government.

However, we will get our priorities straight and direct the investment of taxpayers’ money to deliver a better outcome for WA.

We know if there isn’t reliable power supply, you can’t run a business, and you can’t run a household.

A WA Liberal Government will build 300MW of gas generation and utilise current coal generation until full-scale renewables are built to be reliable and financially sound.

We will boost gas supply in the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline to establish additional gas generation capacity.

We will also support the expansion of the vanadium industry by providing a five-year royalties exemption for vanadium mines established in Western Australia.

Vanadium is a key natural resource in the development of next generation renewable energy generation and storage infrastructure.

To ensure a responsible and affordable energy transition, Western Australia must harness its vast natural resources to build the necessary infrastructure.

Families should not be faced with unaffordable, unreliable electricity because of a lack of forward planning.

Western Australians deserve a government that has a financially responsible strategy for the future, investing in a multifaceted plan for our energy supply.

Only the WA Liberal Party is committed to supporting the most beneficial path forward for WA’s energy needs and securing a brighter future for WA families.