Katter calls on PM to safeguard Australia’s long term energy needs 20 March 2014: KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has called on the Prime Minister in Question Time today to protect our long-term energy needs by implementing a Reserve Resource policy, essentially reserving some of Australia’s gas to protect consumers from skyrocketing gas and electricity prices. “We aren’t running around like ostriches with our heads in the sand, but we can see the train coming and for heaven’s sake get off the track. “Our gas-powered electricity generators will be dangerously diminished within years and our electricity prices are going through the roof. Many of local industries including Incitc Pivot in Mount Isa compete with countries that enjoy a domestic resource policy,” said Mr Katter. Western Australia has a Domestic Gas Reservation Policy, which makes available domestic gas equivalent to 15% of LNG production from each LNG export project. “A Domestic Reserve Resource Policy aims at securing Australia’s long-term energy needs by ensuring that we have access to domestic gas supplies. “Reserving our existing supplies will protect manufacturers and householders from skyrocketing prices that are imminent without the implementation of a gas reserve policy,” said Mr Katter. Mr Katter’s Question to the Prime Minister, follows Glencore’s announcement that within 100 years, copper production will crease, thus abolishing approximately one fifth of North West Queensland’s economy. “The abolition of Queensland’s “Reserved Resource” policy and the corporatisation of rail and electricity coupled with Queensland’s decision to impose crippling ALP environmental laws have unleashed skyrocketing cost structures. “Could the Prime Minister restore cheap electricity to homes and industry by reintroducing Queensland’s 1980’s “Reserved Resource” policy and rescue the North West by barring the Queensland State Government environmental laws, which is embarrassingly ridiculous in an outback town 1300 km from the nearest city?” Mr Katter asked the Prime Minister. Mr Katter was disappointed with Prime Minister’s response, which focused on the abolition of the carbon tax, instead of implementing policies to safeguard Australia’s long-term energy needs. Mr Katter said that a reserves resource policy worked to great effect in Queensland, when he was Mines and Energy Minister, when nearly half of the state’s power from Gladstone came via free coal. “Part of the (coal) resource was reserved for the benefit of the people of Queensland. “Gas is quadrupling in price – causing immense suffering from household budgets and hip pockets to mineral processing and steel manufacturing, fertiliser to even peanut processing. “Amongst the communities to be hit hardest by escalating electricity charges will be Mount Isa – which is forced to rely on gas because the ALP-LNP have denied these communities access to our national energy grid,” said Mr Katter. ENDS
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 06:46:42 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015