The Shadow Minister for Energy Dr Steve Thomas says that today’s Government media release highlights the complete inadequacy of the Albany gas transition program.
“A real and fair program to transition Albany’s reticulated gas users will cost at least $100 million, and I am calling on the Government to stump up the money required to deliver a fair and adequate transition for all Albany residents” Dr Thomas said.
“The Government’s problem is that it somehow chose a woefully inadequate cost figure and has been trying to fit an unfair and unjust transition into that number.
“The time has come to acknowledge the real cost of a just transition and fund it appropriately.
Dr Thomas said the Government seemed happy to adequately fund the transition for its own social housing stocks, with $9 million set aside for some 450 social houses.
“That represents an average of $20,000 per house for the Government’s social houses as it caps the amount available to private dwellings at $2000” Dr Thomas said.
“Why is the Government prepared to spend ten times as much on the transition for social housing compared to privately owned family homes?
“The Labor Government is obviously prepared to cover the realistic cost of transition out of reticulated gas, but only in its own properties.
“For example, full electrification of your home would easily cost over $10,000 when including new appliances, which is fine if you are being paid $20,000 for a Government house but a disaster if you are restricted to $2,000 in your own home.
“The entire transition project is woefully underfunded and entirely unfair on the people of Albany.
