[Greens-Media] Media release: O'Farrell govt toying with subsidised coal powered future

[John Kaye]

O'Farrell govt toying with subsidised coal powered future

Media release: 21 February 2014

Planning approval for the Cobbora coal mine risks plunging NSW into a heavily subsidised fossil-fuelled electricity future and will create long term uncertainty for the local economy, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: "The approval of Cobbora coal mine in the State's Central West is the next stage in a development that could see the state's power industry inundated with cheap coal.

"The mine is deeply uneconomic and will only go ahead if it is to receive massive state government subsidies in the future.

"Prior to the 2011 state election, the greatest critic of Cobbora was then shadow Treasurer Mike Baird.

"Now he is in government, the Treasurer is looking to find a private sector developer who can take Labor's white elephant off his books. He knows the development will never go ahead unless the state government is prepared to deliver hidden financial assistance to the mine.

"Any sale of the mine to a private sector coal company might bring in a fistful of cash but it will cost taxpayers in the long run.

"This mine is an environmental and economic disaster.

"The O'Farrell government should have walked away from it instead of continuing with Labor's plans to prop up coal-fired electricity generation in NSW with a mine that can't stand on its own two feet.

"Mike Baird has abandoned his critical analysis of Cobbora and instead he is pushing ahead with a mine that would impose costs on the state budget for decades to come and create tens of millions of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

"Mr Baird needs to come clean on the real costs of a Cobbora development.

"The development approval has created massive uncertainty for the local community.

"They will have to live with the threat of a destructive coal mine hanging over the future of the local economy.

"The uncertainty will inevitably destroy opportunities for new jobs in agriculture and renewable energy," Dr Kaye said.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455

John Kaye
Greens NSW MP

P: (02) 9230 2668 | F: facebook.com/john.kaye.mlc<http://www.facebook.com/john.kaye.mlc> | T: @johnkgreens<twitter.com/johnkgreens> | W: www.johnkaye.org.au<http://www.johnkaye.org.au>
Mail: Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

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