May 21, 2018: AGL’s decision to close the decrepit Liddell power plant shows the business community recognise the age of coal is at an end and must serve as a lesson for Australian governments.AGL CEO, Andrew Vesey, has today refused an offer by Alinta Energy Pty Limited to acquire the Liddell Power Station, resisting pressure from both Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and Environment and Energy Minister, Josh Frydenberg.
“AGL’s decision is the clearest demonstration yet of how out of touch the Australian Government’s climate denial and coal fetishism really is,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific Head of Research and Investigations, Nikola Casule, said.
“That same denial falls apart messily when it smashes into the wall of economic reality.”
Greenpeace Australia Pacific is calling for the federal government to end their outdated support of fossil fuels and to scrap their National Energy Guarantee policy which aims to prop up failing power plants such as this.
“Leadership to decrease Australia’s contribution to climate change through our support of coal is critical from all areas,” Casule said.
“Not for the first time we are seeing corporate sector taking the lead while the government lag behind.
“The Australian people will not tolerate this inaction and archaic support of a bygone industry.”
For interviews contact:
Simon Black
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Senior Media Campaigner
0418 219 086 / [email protected]