Victorian Government Gas Decision makes Good Sense

A modicum of common sense has finally prevailed in Victoria, following the Victorian Government’s decision to lift the moratorium on onshore conventional gas exploration and development.

Senator for Victoria, Senator David Van, has welcomed the decision, which have come following the Senator’s calls on the Andrews Government to harness Victoria’s plentiful and cheap natural gas reserves.

“With the Bass Strait reserves coming to the end of their long lives, I am pleased the Victorian Government has come to its senses and accepts the truth around the economic benefits of developing Victoria’s gas industry, and what it will mean for cheap energy production, manufacturing and royalties for the state,” said Senator Van.

“It is also about time that ‘Blackout Dan’ finally accepted the need to have another abundant cheap power source that is dispatchable when the intermittent power supplies are not available.

“That solution is gas-fired electricity generation and the lifting of the moratorium will finally allow Victorians to benefit from cheaper power prices.

“Gas is undoubtedly the best low carbon fuel source to complement the intermittent nature of wind and solar generation,” said Senator Van.

While the decision on conventional gas makes good sense for Victoria, the challenge remains that a similar decision should be made on the ban on unconventional gas exploration to open the industry up further in Victoria.

“Victoria has potentially enormous shale and tight gas resources that could generate billions in revenue and create local jobs over the long term in regional Victoria”, Senator Van said.

“It is economic vandalism to not allow these resources to be explored and feasibility studies conducted.

“These energy sources will compliment other sources of power and end the reliance on importing gas from Queensland and using polluting diesel generation to prevent blackouts in Victoria.”