One Nation has promised to keep Victoria's largest coal-fired power station running past its planned 2035 closure and to scrap the state's ban on nuclear energy, unveiling the policy at the Loy Yang A plant in the Latrobe Valley on Monday.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and Victorian state leader Warren Pickering travelled to the Latrobe Valley, east of Melbourne, to announce the party's energy policy ahead of November's state election.
Speaking at the Loy Yang A power station, Mr Pickering said the party would not allow the plant to close in 2035 as planned, blaming the decline of coal on government policy that he said has discouraged plant owners from conducting maintenance.
Mr Pickering conceded the party had not spoken to Loy Yang A's owner, AGL, about keeping the plant open or whether it would cost the state government to do so. "Those figures haven't been discussed just yet," he said. "The intent would be to encourage the industry through industry future security to tip into the capital expenditure required themselves."
The party also pledged to scrap Victoria's 1983 ban on building nuclear power if it won government. "Victorians deserve an opportunity to partake in the future of nuclear technology," Mr Pickering said, citing potential "new technological innovations in thorium nuclear micro-reactor technology" or the federal policy position to develop a nuclear facility on the eastern seaboard.
One Nation additionally promised to scrap renewable energy zones in the state's west and a coastal zone for offshore wind, and to abandon Victoria's commitment to net zero emissions.
A spokesperson for AGL said the company was aware of One Nation's announcement and reiterated the planned closure date for Loy Yang A in 2035.
The announcement comes as voters are offered starkly different energy policies, with the Coalition and One Nation both critical of Labor's renewables rollout.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The Victorian election will decide the future of the state's energy mix, with One Nation proposing to extend coal reliance and introduce nuclear power, directly challenging Labor's renewable energy agenda.
- Keeping Loy Yang A open beyond 2035 would have major implications for emissions targets, electricity prices, and the transition of the Latrobe Valley workforce.
- One Nation's policy, while unlikely to form government itself, could influence the Coalition's energy stance and the broader political debate.
Background
Victoria has had a ban on nuclear power since 1983, and the state's energy policy under Labor has focused on renewable energy zones, offshore wind, and a net zero emissions target. The Latrobe Valley has historically been the heart of Victoria's coal-fired electricity generation, and Loy Yang A is one of the state's largest coal plants. AGL, its operator, has previously committed to closing the plant by 2035 as part of its transition strategy.
Key Perspectives
One Nation: Argues coal decline is driven by government policy that discourages maintenance investment, and that nuclear technology offers a future for reliable, low-emissions power. The party wants to remove the nuclear ban and encourage industry investment through 'industry future security'.
AGL: The plant operator has reaffirmed its planned 2035 closure date, indicating no current intention to keep Loy Yang A running beyond that timeline.
Labor and Coalition: Labor is pushing renewables rollout, while the Coalition has been critical of that approach, though it has not endorsed One Nation's specific proposals. Voters will face a clear choice between energy policies at the election.
What to Watch
- Whether One Nation releases cost estimates or engages with AGL regarding keeping Loy Yang A open.
- The Coalition's response to One Nation's nuclear proposal, particularly if it moves to match or differentiate its policy.
- Any further announcements from Labor responding to the criticism of its renewables rollout ahead of November.