The Allan government was urged to fast-track major electricity transmission line projects or risk years of substantial increases to household bills if the state’s coal-fired power stations closed before the projects were completed. A Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action report warned that current trends of delays to the high-voltage projects along with early closures of coal power exposed Victorians to significant bill shock. A protest against the KerangLink transmission project was mowed into a field last year. Credit: Glenden Watts It made the case for accelerating Marinus Link, a new connection to Tasmania due for completion in 2030, and KerangLink, which provides a new connection between Victoria and NSW that is due to be finished in 2032. KerangLink will mean power stored by the Snowy 2.0 hydropower project can be siphoned to Victoria and power generated by Victoria’s new wind farms can be sent north, improving the reliability of the grid. The 2022 report, obtained by the state opposition under freedom-of-information laws and provided to The Age, found if the projects were completed even one year later, the increase to household energy bills would be $48 annually, or $717 over 15 years between 2026 and 2040. A four-year delay would add $321 annually to power bills or $4816 over 15 years, according to the Endgame Economics modelling. Since the report was written, Marinus Link is now expected to be delivered by 2032 — two years later than modelled. KerangLink is still forecast to be finalised by the end of this decade but has been beset by community and political opposition. The extra costs for consumers would largely be driven by the cost of having to import more energy from interstate. The department said this showed “the importance of accelerating against KerangLink to protect against unexpected project delays and provide the best chance of delivery before all coal is closed in Victoria”. Although at least one generator in Victoria has indicated it will stay open until 2035, the Australian Energy Market Operator expects coal to exit the grid sooner and has warned that premature closures pose a serious danger. The Victorian department’s report noted many transmission projects in Australia were running behind schedule, with delays of at least a year since they were included in AEMO’s 2018 reports. Accelerating KerangLink, also known as Victoria to NSW Interconnector West, could provide a buffer for any project delays or the earlier exit of coal, it said. Because Victoria is home to the nation’s largest and oldest brown coal stations, the bill impacts of this “shock scenario” were more than double compared with those in other states in the National Electricity Market — NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia – and in the ACT. Loading The report noted that bringing the project forward would also reduce the time available for early community engagement and warned that those consequences should be minimised. State opposition energy spokesman David Davis said the Allan government should have better planned for the risks, including allowing time for consultation. “Instead, Labor has botched energy policy in Victoria and now, in a rush, is seeking to cover its own tracks by shortcuts on consultation and bulldozing landowners,” Davis said. “By dithering and through their incompetence, Labor have got themselves in a corner and Victorian families are being asked to pay the price.” The Coalition has not formally said it would scrap the KerangLink project, but it has previously tried to block planning laws that paved the way for it. Last year Nationals leader Peter Walsh called for it to be abandoned as his party argued it was unnecessary and expensive. The Nationals recently urged landholders to hold out when negotiating deals for compensation. Stephanie Bashir, chief executive of energy advisory firm Nexa Advisory, said the high-voltage transmission line projects started off on the wrong foot with communities through a false assumption they would accept them. “That was a very wrong assumption, and it’s been basically paddling ever since to try and get communities and the broader public on board with the transition,” she said. Bashir said planning and approvals now needed to be urgently expedited so the transmission lines could be shovel-ready within 12 months to ensure renewables could be built and connected before coal power plant closures. Loading “The key thing to manage the impact on consumer bills is to get the transition done on time,” Bashir said. “Unplanned outages and sudden closures of coal mean high prices.” She said it was not viable to keep extending the life of ageing coal-powered stations and that delays would mean importing expensive gas as a back-up. Victoria is expected to contribute $1.6 billion towards KerangLink, which would add $9 a year to household bills. Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said Victoria’s coal-fired power stations were increasingly unreliable. “That’s why we’re building renewable energy projects for our future and the transmission needed to deliver cheaper, more reliable power to all Victorians. “The Liberal-Nationals energy policy is the same anti-renewables plan they implemented when they were last in government.” Through VicGrid, the government is creating funds for landowners and communities that host new renewable energy infrastructure such as KerangLink. The Australian Energy Market Operator received more than 500 submissions while consulting on KerangLink options for six weeks. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Energy Electricity Coal Victorian Parliament For subscribers Kieran Rooney is a Victorian state political reporter at The Age. Connect via email . Rachel Eddie is a Victorian state political reporter for The Age. Previously, she was a city reporter and has covered breaking news. Connect via Twitter or email . Most Viewed in Politics Loading
Alex Berenguer prodded the hosts ahead after 53 minutes before Mbappe – who failed to convert a Champions League penalty against Liverpool last week – sent his kick too close to Bilbao goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala. Jude Bellingham appeared to have rescued a point for Real after scoring for the fourth successive league game 12 minutes from time. 📸 PORTERAZO. JULEN, JULEN! JULEN JULEN! #AthleticRealMadrid #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/w260s6xo79 — Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) December 4, 2024 But Federico Valverde’s mistake two minutes later gifted Gorka Guruzeta the winner in front of a delirious San Mames crowd. On a busy night of second-round Copa del Rey action, Villarreal suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Pontevedra while there were wins for Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano and Valencia. Fiorentina went out of the Coppa Italia to Empoli on penalties on an emotional night at Stadio Artemio Franchi. Viola were back in action after Edoardo Bove’s health scare forced their weekend league fixture with Inter Milan to be abandoned during the first half. Midfielder Bove collapsed on the pitch and required emergency medical treatment. He was taken to hospital but regained consciousness in intensive care. Esposito's penalty books Empoli's place in the next round 💪 #FiorentinaEmpoli pic.twitter.com/UUxghH9l6b — Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) December 4, 2024 Empoli led at half-time through Emmanuel Ekong’s fourth-minute opener before Moise Kean and Riccardo Sottil put Fiorentina ahead. Sebastiano Esposito struck 15 minutes from time to make it 2-2 and take the last-16 tie into extra time, Empoli eventually winning 4-3 on penalties. Benjamin Sesko opened the scoring and Luis Openda struck twice as RB Leipzig brushed aside Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 in the German DFB Pokal. Second-half goals from Denis Vavro, Jonas Wind and Yannick Gerhardt saw Wolfsburg beat Hoffenheim 3-0. Cologne knocked out Hertha Berlin 2-1 after extra time with Dejan Ljubicic converting a penalty in the final seconds, while Augsburg prevailed 5-4 on penalties against Karlsruhe after a 2-2 draw.
Guardiola takes his struggling side to Liverpool on Sunday. Pep Guardiola has pledged to step aside if he fails to turn around Manchester City’s poor run of form. The City boss is enduring the worst run of his glittering managerial career after a six-game winless streak featuring five successive defeats and a calamitous 3-3 draw in a match his side had led 3-0. The 53-year-old, who has won 18 trophies since taking charge at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, signed a contract extension through to the summer of 2027 just over a week ago. Yet, despite his remarkable successes, he still considers himself vulnerable to the sack and has pleaded with the club to keep faith. “I don’t want to stay in the place if I feel like I’m a problem,” said the Spaniard, who watched in obvious frustration as City conceded three times in the last 15 minutes in a dramatic capitulation against Feyenoord in midweek. “I don’t want to stay here just because the contract is there. “My chairman knows it. I said to him, ‘Give me the chance to try come back’, and especially when everybody comes back (from injury) and see what happens. “After, if I’m not able to do it, we have to change because, of course, (the past) nine years are dead. “More than ever I ask to my hierarchy, give me the chance. “Will it be easy for me now? No. I have the feeling that still I have a job to do and I want to do it.” City have been hampered by a raft of injuries this term, most pertinently to midfield talisman and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. The Euro 2024 winner is expected to miss the remainder of the season and his absence has been keenly felt over the past two months. Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has also not started a match since September. The pressure continues to build with champions City facing a crucial trip to title rivals and Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday. Defeat would leave City trailing Arne Slot’s side by 11 points. “I don’t enjoy it at all, I don’t like it,” said Guardiola of his side’s current situation. “I sleep not as good as I slept when I won every game. “The sound, the smell, the perfume is not good enough right now. “But I’m the same person who won the four Premier Leagues in a row. I was happier because I ate better, lived better, but I was not thinking differently from who I am.” Guardiola is confident his side will not stop battling as they bid to get back on track. He said: “The people say, ‘Yeah, it’s the end of that’. Maybe, but we are in November. We will see what happens until the end. “What can you do? Cry for that? You don’t stay long – many, many years without fighting. That is what you try to look for, this is the best (way). “Why should we not believe? Why should it not happen with us?”NoneThe Sweden midfielder hailed Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing of the champions as the best game of his career. The 24-year-old delivered an outstanding performance as Spurs shattered the champions’ 52-game unbeaten home run, helping start the rout with a superb cross for James Maddison’s opening goal. Kulusevski said: “I believed (we would win) this because in the past years, we’ve come here and played really well. “So this is the game I look forward to most in the year and, once again, it happened – glory to God. “I’d say it’s the best result ever in my career. It’s a big night for the whole club, for the coach, for the players. “Because City have a lot of the ball sometimes, we can rest when we defend. There’s also so much space up there, we play one against one and then it’s always dangerous because we have a lot of quality. “It’s always great to play great teams because they always want to play football. When you play lower teams, sometimes it’s not. There’s not much football played because they are a lot of fouls, a lot of injuries and it’s slow going.” Maddison stole the show with two goals in quick succession in the first half while Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson later got on the scoresheet. Kulu-chef-ski cooked 👨🍳 📊 @KumhoTyreUK pic.twitter.com/CsrTh5oUgn — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 24, 2024 Yet Kulusevski’s performance was also eye-catching and the player himself believes there is plenty more to come from him. Asked if his form made him feel “unstoppable”, Kulusevski said: “I feel like that. I feel very good and I’m trying to keep this way. I’m very happy, I’m trying to improve. “I started the season good but there is over half of the season left and I hope I can do much better. “I think I have something that no other player has. With my engine, with my heart – I don’t get tired – I feel like I can do a lot still in my career.” Spurs have won more matches against Pep Guardiola's Man City than any other side 👀 pic.twitter.com/BHLZqde9sP — Premier League (@premierleague) November 23, 2024 Tottenham’s scintillating performance marked a spectacular return to form after their dismal loss to Ipswich in their previous Premier League outing. Kulusevski said: “We have to be much more consistent. It’s not a turning point. We just have to be better in other games. “This game suited us perfectly but we have a lot of improvement to make in the other games.”AP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:33 p.m. EST
Rev Richard Coles has been a much-loved TV personality over the years, and has instantly become a fan favourite after joining the I'm a Celebrity jungle as a latecomer alongside Maura Higgins. However, the star, who previously competed on Strictly Come Dancing, has a very difficult history having lost his partner David, aged 42, back in 2019. Richard was in a relationship with his partner David Oldham, a fellow priest, since 2007, with the pair entering a civil partnership in 2010, where David took Richard's surname. David described himself as a "dilettante potter, designer, gardener & narrow boat enthusiast," and often shared updates on social media on his cooking skills. The pair lived in the village of Finedon. Speaking about their relationship, he said: "I liked football. He liked Ugly Betty. I was allowed Match of the Day but he wanted two Ugly Betties in return. I remember having a terrible row with him once because I wanted Train To Busan, which is a particularly gory South Korean zombie movie, and I had to give him Legally Blonde for the second week in a row in exchange." Speaking about their relationship, Richard said: "From the minute we met – boom! I never for a minute thought – no matter what happened – we would ever part." In 2019, Richard announced the very said news that David had passed away, writing that "he had been ill for a while". However, he later confirmed that David had died as a result of alcoholic liver disease. Speaking to BBC Radio Northampton, he said: "People used to talk about the ‘demon drink’ which sounds like a rather melodramatic way to describe it, but it is like someone is seized by a demon and when David was at his worst he was really difficult and it was very tough." Speaking to Radio Times, he added: "My husband David died of alcoholic liver disease just before Christmas 2019. He was 43, a clergyman, and a former A&E charge nurse. Not an obvious victim, you might think, of alcoholism, but he had been drinking excessively since his teenage years, as a palliative – alcohol is the most readily available anaesthetic in the world – and as a recreation." He added to The Guardian: "The great pathos about David, as an alcoholic, was that he was grimly determined to keep his drinking secret. But drinking is a thing that’s very difficult to keep secret. And he failed, spectacularly." He has written about his experiences in a memoir, The Madness of Grief: A Memoir of Love and Loss. He has spoken very candidly about his grief, telling publication: "After David died, there was a woman at the hospital who had been widowed, too. She said, 'You're going to be mad, for a while. People will never be as nice to you again as they are now, so milk it for all you can.'" "I've had to subtract David from the future and that has taken all the future with it. It’s a bit blank. I think: ‘What the [expletive] am I going to do? Play the accordion and go to bed at ten past six, I guess. Of course, it’s not the end of my life. But it feels like it’s over sometimes. During the very sad time, the Strictly star spoke of further heartbreak after being forced to rehome three of their five pet dachshunds, as he was unable to care for all of them on his own. He said: "They went to good homes, but it was so hard. Seeing them go, with their little dog faces, was just horrible." The aftermath of David's death was also made particularly difficult due to internet trolls, who the Reverend spoke frankly about - and reported to the police. Posting to X at the time, he wrote: "99.99999% loveliness from people and then a small but lively correspondence from Christians who wish me to know that D is in hell and I will follow. "It’s like the Khmer Rouge suddenly popping up in a stream of condolence. A letter, courageously unsigned, begins: 'Dear Mr Coles, I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to hear of the death of your partner.'" In 2023, Richard confirmed that he was in a relationship with War Horse actor Dickie Cant. Chatting on Lorraine, he revealed that they had met on a dating app, saying: "Best invention of civilisation. It was called Elite Singles which was a bit embarrassing because I wasn’t elite... The third person I met is the person I’m with now." He continued: "I thought I was out of the game when David died. It was a bit like a polar bear emerging from hibernation and wanting to eat a seal."A huge crocodile that rose to fame with a cameo in hit film Crocodile Dundee has died. Burt died over the weekend, the Crocosaurus Cove reptile aquarium in Darwin, Australia, said. He was at least 90 years old. “Known for his independent nature, Burt was a confirmed bachelor – an attitude he made clear during his earlier years at a crocodile farm,” Crocosaurus Cove wrote in social media posts. The aquarium added: “He wasn’t just a crocodile, he was a force of nature and a reminder of the power and majesty of these incredible creatures. While his personality could be challenging, it was also what made him so memorable and beloved by those who worked with him and the thousands who visited him over the years.” A saltwater crocodile, Burt was estimated to be more than 16 feet long. He was captured in the 1980s in the Reynolds River and became one of the most well-known crocodiles in the world, according to Crocosaurus Cove. The 1986 film stars Paul Hogan as the rugged crocodile hunter Mick Dundee. In the movie, American Sue Charlton, played by actress Linda Kozlowski, goes to fill her canteen in a watering hole when she is attacked by a crocodile before being saved by Dundee. Burt is briefly shown lunging out of the water. But the creature shown in more detail as Dundee saves the day is apparently something else. The Internet Movie Database says the film made a mistake by depicting an American alligator, which has a blunter snout. The Australian aquarium where Burt had lived since 2008 features a Cage of Death which it says is the nation’s only crocodile dive. It said it planned to honour Burt’s legacy with a commemorative sign “celebrating his extraordinary life and the stories and interactions he shared throughout his time at the park”.
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