Fixing the Energy Grid: Why Planning and Transparency Must Come First

The prescription for a failing system

In my years as a GP, I learned that you cannot treat a patient effectively if you do not have a proper diagnosis. You certainly cannot fix an ailment by simply renaming it or hiding the symptoms in a pile of paperwork. Yet, this is exactly what we are seeing with the government's approach to our state's energy transition. The evidence is clear: the government has spent years without a coherent plan, and now they are attempting to catch up with legislation that lacks the necessary detail to ensure our grid remains stable.

This is not merely an exercise in bureaucracy. It is a waiting room where the health of our state's future is at stake. When the lights flicker or the prices spike, it is the family struggling with the cost of living who suffers. It is the business owner who cannot rely on their equipment. The danger of ignoring the need for a comprehensive, transparent plan is real. We are talking about the basic infrastructure that keeps our hospitals running, our schools open, and our homes liveable.

The need for forward thinking

While the major parties play politics, those of us who prioritize science and evidence-based policy are looking at the stark reality. We are in the middle of a transition from fossil fuels to renewables, but the government has been building the roof before they have even laid the foundations. They have moved from a promised Whole of System Plan to a rebranded document, all while the industry is left guessing about how the grid will actually function.

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Accountability over convenience

The legislation before the House aims to introduce capital charges for connecting to the grid, but it leaves nearly every critical detail to regulations that are not subject to the same level of parliamentary scrutiny as the bill itself. We are being asked to grant a head of power without a clear horizon on when neutrality will be measured or how the results will be reported. It is a leap of faith I am not prepared to take on behalf of my constituents.

We need a system that supports innovation and encourages local participation rather than one that imposes financial barriers which favor only the largest market participants. We must demand that the government provides the modelling and the reporting that the public deserves. You can read the full, complex debate and see where each member stands by visiting the official record. If you believe, like I do, that we need a science-led and transparent approach to our state's future, I invite you to join our movement at Legalise Cannabis WA and help us make a real difference in the halls of Parliament.