2015-10-23
The Final Report of the Review of Australia’s Energy Market governance has missed an opportunity to press for badly needed reform of our national electricity market, which is holding back the roll out of clean energy, driving up consumer prices and is a barrier to real action on climate change.
The review panel has correctly identified the “strategic policy deficit” in current arrangements and the twin challenges of climate change and the growth in clean and distributed energy, but has backed away from recommending changes to market governance that are needed.
It is clear the objectives of our electricity market need to take account of these challenges and must be updated, but the panel has failed to recommend changes to the objectives.
Comment from Greens energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP:
“The energy review is a damp squib when it should have been a firecracker under the seat of politicians. Until the goals of our national electricity market are changed to take account of climate change, a growth of renewable energy and fairer ways of funding network costs, we will be unable to respond to the challenges raised by the review panel.”
Media contact: Adam Pulford, 0429 109 054