Nationals candidate for Bendigo East Gaelle Broad has claimed a more balanced approach to energy production can reduce the impact of crippling utility bills.
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Since announcing her candidacy in April, the former radio presenter said she had heard from countless families and businesses struggling with spiralling energy costs.
Indeed larger manufacturers like Hazeldene’s had reported a doubling of utility bills over the past year, she said.
Read more: Looming energy price surge
“These unprecedented prices make it so hard for businesses to keep their lights on,” she said.
Ms Broad said policies adopted by Labor – like increasing the brown coal royalty rate in 2016 and the ban on conventional gas exploration – were driving up prices.
“Renewables are an important part of the mix but the target (renewable energy targets set by the state government) is very high,” she said.
In June 2016, the government committed to Victorian renewable energy generation targets of 25 per cent by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2025.
A Coalition government would provide a more balanced approach to avoid “unprecedented prices”, she said.
One of the key pillars of Ms Broad’s campaign is planning for growth, and the cost of living constitutes part of this, she said.
“We do have coal and gas resources in Victoria and we're relying on others states to supply our power,” she said.
“The wind doesn’t always blow and the sun doesn't always shine - we need consistency of supply.
“The Coalition is definitely committed to keeping the lights on in Victoria.”
Since July 2017, there were almost 40,000 disconnections of customers for not paying their energy bills across Victoria, which is 22 per cent higher than July 2016 to March 2017, according to latest data from the Essential Services Commission.
The ESC has no localised data.
State member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan said: “You can’t trust the Liberals when it comes to power prices – they privatised Victoria’s electricity network, hurting Victorian businesses and consumers.”
“We know that one of the best ways to bust energy bills is to look for a better offer, that's why we're encouraging every household to visit the Victorian energy compare website.
“Our $50 power saving bonus is seeing thousands of Victorians comparing offers and saving an average of $600 off their electricity and gas bills.
“We won’t be jobs vandals like the Coalition – we stand by our Victorian Renewable Energy Target which is creating hundreds of jobs throughout Victoria.”
The state government, through Sustainability Victoria, has programs available to help small to medium-sized businesses through energy-saving grants.
More than 20,000 businesses have undertaken energy upgrades because of our support, according to the government.