Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love MLA has slammed the Cook Labor Government for betraying its $150 million election commitment to deliver a vanadium battery in Kalgoorlie, after the Treasurer admitted that not a single cent has been allocated over the budget forward estimates.
Following repeated questioning in Budget Estimates, the Treasurer admitted there is no specific line item in the State Budget for the project, stating only that the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification is adequately resourced to undertake “planning”.
“This was a major election promise, Labor told the people of Kalgoorlie they would deliver a 50-megawatt vanadium battery to secure local power supply and drive new industry,” Mr Love said.
“The Treasurer’s admission that there’s no specific funding exposes this promise as empty rhetoric, with not a cent in the Budget to back it up.”
Mr Love said the lack of any forward funding allocation raises serious doubts about whether the battery will be operational by 2029, as Labor promised.
“Kalgoorlie has every right to question whether this project was ever a serious commitment, or simply a convenient election pitch to win votes.
“When the Treasurer can’t point to a single dollar in the Budget, it’s hard to take this commitment seriously.”
Mr Love said with WA’s last coal-fired power station due to close in 2029, energy security in the Goldfields should be a priority.
“If this battery is part of Labor’s plan for life after coal, then where’s the investment to make it happen?” he said.
“Kalgoorlie deserves reliable power, not vague assurances and empty promises.”
Mr Love said The Nationals WA would continue to push for transparency and accountability on regional infrastructure projects and call on the Government to deliver what it promised.