Affordable Energy

Affordable and reliable energy is essential for Victorian households, businesses, farmers and industry. Government policies – primarily the obscene rush to taxpayer-subsidised renewables like wind and solar, and premature closures of coal and gas power plants – have led to huge increases in our energy bills, and looming energy shortages. It’s hurting households, costing jobs, and driving away investment, manufacturing, and innovation.

This makes no sense in a place like Victoria or Australia, where there is an abundance of natural energy resources. One Nation’s energy policy aims to leverage this competitive advantage, utilising our natural energy resources to generate cheaper, more reliable power. These resources include uranium as well as coal and gas; One Nation supports modern nuclear technology as a safe, proven, and reliable source of emissions-free energy in Victoria and Australia.

One Nation considers that energy security is critical to economic sustainability and even national security, so we support the diversification of energy sources to ensure we don’t overly rely on just one or two technologies. Nuclear, low-emission coal, natural gas, hydro, solar, and even other emerging technologies like geo-thermal should all be part of the energy mix.

Our Policies

Embracing Coal
Embracing Nuclear
Natural Gas
Ending Renewables’ Subsidies
Reducing Power Prices
Fuel
Energy Innovation
Environmental Responsibility

Embracing Coal

Victoria has abundant reserves of quality coal, and a mature industry able to extract and develop this resource efficiently. One Nation will ensure Victorian coal remains part of a reliable and affordable energy system by:

  • Amending National Electricity Market rules so the price of energy produced from coal is not artificially inflated.
  • Providing long term industry security to encourage investment into upgrading coal power infrastructure.

Embracing Nuclear

Australia has around 30% of the world’s proven uranium reserves and 20% of known global thorium deposits. Yet, we also have a law prohibiting commercial nuclear energy production despite almost every other modern developed nation on the planet relying on this emissions-free technology. One Nation will address this by:

  • Supporting the repeal of the Federal legislated ban on nuclear energy; and embracing the benefits of nuclear technology for Victoria.
  • Exploring the costs, benefits and potential of introducing nuclear technology to Victoria.
  • Ensuring Australia remains at the forefront of new developments in nuclear technology and thorium-based generators, such as emerging small modular reactor technology, through international partnerships.
  • Ensuring the most rigorous safety and environmental standards for nuclear energy.

Natural Gas

Victoria has vast natural gas reserves in both the Gippsland and Otway basins. We currently export much of our natural gas both interstate and overseas. One Nation Victoria will ensure that:

  • The amount of gas required to meet Victoria’s current domestic and industrial demand, and interstate demand, is reserved before permitting exports of gas extracted from Victorian sources.
  • Local gas prices remain at or below that of the exported product.
  • The further exploration for commercial offshore gas reserves is continued.
  • The State Government’s proposed ban on gas connections in newly constructed homes is reversed.

Ending Renewables’ Subsidies

One Nation does not favour any one energy technology over another, and holds that all should compete on a level playing field. We will even the playing field by:

  • Phasing out taxpayer-funded subsidies for renewable energy projects.
  • Allowing existing renewable energy projects to fulfil their obligations under current agreements, but not offering any new subsidies.
  • Rehabilitating prime agricultural land heavily impacted by renewable energy infrastructure and protecting this land from further intrusions.
  • Holding an urgent review of all above-ground transmission lines, with the preference to reroute or go underground, where this is in the best interest of local community safety and amenity.
  • Returning authority to land owners to refuse access to their own properties.

Reducing Power Prices

Dramatically increasing power prices are a major component in Victoria’s rising costs of living. One Nation will work to reduce power prices by:

  • Amending National Electricity Market rules so the price of energy reflects its true market value regardless of the generation source.
  • Working with energy providers to make their operations more efficient, and pass on savings to consumers.
  • Encouraging competition among energy providers to lift service standards and drive down costs.
  • Targeted relief for pensioners and vulnerable households facing high energy bills.
  • De-privatising the quasi monopoly of transmission and distribution, and transferring ownership of these assets into a public not-for-profit entity.

Fuel

With dangerously low domestic fuel and oil storage across the country, we desperately need to increase our fuel reserves from the current 14 days to the recommended 90 days capacity. One Nation Victoria will:

  • Advocate for the expansion of fuel storage facilities at the Geelong refinery.
  • Explore options for further local refining operations in emergency circumstances.

Supporting Energy Innovation

Victoria and Australia have unique energy needs, and it’s critical that we develop technologies that will meet them now and in the long-term. One Nation will foster energy innovation by:

  • Ensuring Australia remains at the forefront of new developments in nuclear technology, such as emerging small modular reactor technology, thorium LFTR, and active participation in international partnerships.
  • Investing in research and development to advance cleaner and more efficient coal, gas, and nuclear power generation.
  • Encouraging competition and private sector investment in energy innovation through incentives and partnerships.

Better Environmental Responsibility

Energy generation can have a significant impact on the natural environment. One Nation will act to improve the environmental responsibility of the sector by:

  • Prohibiting wind and solar installations on prime agricultural land.
  • Prohibiting off-shore wind installations off the Australian and Victorian coasts.
  • Prohibiting wind and solar developments that impact native forests.
  • Prohibiting wind and solar developments where they constitute an increased bushfire risk.
  • Investing in the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.
  • Protecting environmental assets and prime agricultural land from the impacts of the large infrastructure footprints of renewables.
  • Mandating the use of environmental rehabilitation bonds on all energy projects to mitigate environmental impacts when equipment and infrastructure reaches the end of its operational life.