According to Craig Kelly, MP for Hughes in New South Wales, renewable energy will kill people this winter. Kelly is also the chairman of the Coalition’s backbench environment and energy committee.
The Liberal Kelly said that the deaths would be caused by people not being able to afford to heat their homes this winter. He also blamed the rising fuel costs on the government’s renewable energy target. He said that the recent reports show 1 in 4 Australian households this winter will be frightened to turn on the heater due to the high power prices. He also said the World Health Organization has made it clear that winter mortality rates go up if people can’t afford to heat their homes.
But most of the studies presented were done in Europe where winters can be much colder.
Kelly’s arguments contradict the conclusion of most industry groups, the Finkel Review and other key reports that found policy uncertainties are driving the hike in power prices.