Victoria’s newly appointed energy minister, Jaclyn Symes, says the state is going ahead as planned with the launch of Australia’s first ever offshore wind auction, and keeping it on the calendar for sometime this month.
The status of Australia’s offshore wind plans has been a topic of even more speculation than usual since the Victorian Labor government’s dramatic change of leadership at the end of July, compounded by last week’s shock resignation of state energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio.
D’Ambrosio, who last week called time on her run as Australia’s longest-standing energy minister, has been instrumental in getting Australia’s nascent offshore wind energy sector over the line, including through the establishment of critical supporting infrastructure and the all-important tender process.
These two crucial milestones still hang in the balance, however, with Victoria yet to lock in an offshore wind dedicated port and the first auction pencilled in for this month, but without a firm date.
On Friday, new Labor premier Ben Carroll inadvertently added to speculation of a policy rethink, after broad comments about a new approach to major projects were interpreted by the AFR as flagging “delays to offshore wind plans.”
