Higher prices, lower competitiveness as Daniel Andrews goes it alone on emissions

Victoria has announced its intent to go much further than the federal government in requiring the substitution of renewable energy for the much cheaper and more secure energy that is provided from its endless supplies of high-quality brown coal.  Compared with the national policy of reducing emissions by 26 to 28% by 2030, Victoria is opting for a 45 to 50% reduction. Not only does this introduce another variation on what should be a national energy policy but it consigns Victoria to further losses of industrial competitiveness and households to higher energy costs.  

Victoria’s intervention in the energy markets is long-standing. The state’s brown coal reserves have formed the basis for its electricity…