The hostility the Grattan Institute has shown VIC on energy policy bespeaks a deep hatred of the state.
First, back in 2013, Grattan recommended that QLD be allowed to export all of its gas without domestic reservation. This was always going to be worst for VIC, given it is cold and needs heating, and we all knew Bass Strait was going to run out before the end of the twenties.
Thus, having supported much of the east coast with gas for fifty years, Grattan recommended VIC be abandoned in favour of unfettered LNG exports to China:
“With more than $160 billion forecast to be invested in LNG production, the export industry is good for the economy. Governments should therefore resist self-interested calls from some industries to reserve gas or cap prices for the domestic market”.
“One reason that reserving gas is a bad idea is that there is no shortage of gas. The challenge is to ensure that the gas gets delivered to where it is required, and this means commercial buyers and sellers need to reach commercial terms on new arrangements”.
“Capping prices for the domestic gas market is a very bad idea. It amounts to a tax on producers and a subsidy for domestic gas users. Protectionism of this sort may provide some short-term price relief for targeted industries, but it tends to mean inefficient businesses and less investment”.
“Ultimately it leads to higher prices and damages the economy for us all”.
How does any think tank stay open after that absolute shocker?
But there’s more.
Having ensured VIC would get insufficient gas from up north, Grattan then recommended households rip pipes out of walls, tear appliances off shelves, and hand their credit cards to the nearest energy carpetbagger:
Australia needs to get off natural gas if it is to have any hope of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
All-electric homes are cheaper to run and better for people’s health, and alternative technologies such as hydrogen or biomethane are too costly and too far off for widespread use in homes and small businesses.
What absolute bullshit. Reducing residential gas usage achieves virtually NOTHING on carbon while the gas sector pollutes like a filthy, belching think tank:
Moreover, this hands all of the cost of unmitigation to households while the real polluters go hog wild!
Is it any wonder that the VIC government is suddenly spooked by appalling Grattan advice:
New polling has revealed the state government would face significant voter backlash if it moved to phase out gas connections in existing homes.
Internal tracking data from the Australian Pipelines and Gas Association made public for the first time shows that just a quarter of people support state government moves to phase out gas use.
Figures compiled by polling firm Redbridge since February show a steady decline in support for the policy position, with 55 per cent of respondents opposed to the idea.
Grattan is sponsored by Origin Energy and BHP, one current member and one former member of east coast gas cartel.
Listen to it at your severe personal risk.
