my theory is that everybody knows they're being lied to, but few have the time to find out just how. i'm here to help.

here's how @mattjcan is lying to you:

#1. he says "gas _now_ sets australian electricity prices". the truth is it has for years…

…gas generation in the NEM hit a 15 year low last year, yet it still plays a major role in setting the price.

why? because coal and hydro plants "shadow price" gas.

ie. they set their bids just below the cost of gas to maximise their profits.

see
https://twitter.com/reprosci/status/1332065693722767361?s=20

#2. @mattjcan tries to make a connection between rising gas prices and blackouts in sydney.

that's just soooo wrong!

these blackouts were due to problems in the distribution network ("poles and wires").

there have been no incidents of load shedding in NSW recently.

here i agree with @mattjcan!

it *is* folly to build a gas fired power station in the #hunter and tie our energy competitiveness to volatile world markets.

yes, absolutely right… gas is a very volatile commodity. (pun alert!)

#3. as his solution to volatile gas prices (which coal prices to anyway) @mattjcan advocates for the gov't to build coal power stations… because coal prices are stable perhaps?

nope. thermal #coal prices are incredibly volatile.

nowadays, the cheapest new power generation is australian wind & solar, backed up with australian hydro, pumped hydro & australian lithium.

countless hi-vis photo opportunities and many many jobs there @mattjcan!

truth is, @mattjcan knows all this. he's an economist… nobody's fooled by the coal-dust cosplay makeup.

he's just stoking the culture wars.

not because he wants the best for australia, or for coal workers, but because he wants to boost his relevance.

what a !

#auspol

…and, i shouldn't have neglected, @mattjcan's coal power advocacy this week is strategic " #VirtueSignalling"… a demonstration of loyalty to his paymasters.



@The_Nationals used to be "agrarian socialists", but have morphed into "extractive socialists". #auspol