Liddell gift that keeps on giving

THE coal power station at the centre of Malcolm Turnbull’s efforts to keep the lights on – and keep soaring consumer power bills under control – was given to AGL for “free” by the former Baird NSW Government.

Despite this, AGL is stubbornly distancing itself from plans by the Turnbull government to sell the Liddell power plant, west of Newcastle, to a buyer who will keep it online until at least 2027.

If it did, AGL would stand to make a handsome profit – but if the Hunter Valley plant shuts in 2022 as planned, it would leave NSW with a worrying 46 per cent chance of a major blackout.

AGL yesterday backed away from earlier strong statements about its intention to mothball the coal station.

“We understand the importance of this issue and it’s right the government is focused on it,” an AGL spokeswoman said.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says there is a more immediate crisis in the energy supply system.

“We need to end the war against renewable energy from elements within the government,” he said.

“We now need to talk immediately about the development of strategic reserve of 1000MW to make sure that Australian industry and Australian households don’t experience shortages this summer.”