The Australian Greens today called on the Barnett Government to keep a $30 million sustainable energy fund as part of a commitment to secure energy source diversity in Western Australia, in light of the findings of the Senate Inquiry into the Varanus Island gas explosion which exposed the state’s energy vulnerability.

“I urge the Barnett Government to consider Western Australia’s need for energy diversity in their consideration to axe a $30 million fund aimed at encouraging sustainable energy companies. It would be foolish to forego an opportunity for better energy security, as well as a chance to avert the dangerous climate change,” said Australian Greens spokesperson for sustainable cities, Senator Ludlam.

“The Varanus island accident caused huge disruptions in the economy and exposed just how fragile our energy system is, not just in Western Australia but right across the country.”

“There are two pipelines 1,500 kilometres long which bring 95 per cent of the gas from the north-west. Creating such vulnerability by centralising our energy supply is folly on behalf of government who need to seriously commit to creating new energy pathways,” said Senator Ludlam.

“What we saw was one accident at one plant which knocked out a substantial proportion of Western Australia’s gas supply, with severe economic consequences. It’s clear that the path to energy security is through source diversity.”

“A bright future would show a diversity of sustainable renewable energy sources, rather than the fossil energy dinosaur of large centralised plants connected by cables or pipelines thousands of kilometres from the source to the load or the demand,” he concluded.

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