With the recent closure of Liddell Power Station, the electricity system is on a knife’s edge. It is time for energy policy-makers to take stock – and focus on energy security – before it is too late.

Australia can continue down the path of closing what have been reliable, low-cost, baseload power stations without adequate replacements being available. Or it can do what should be obvious to all elected officials – keep the lights on while building new power stations that are able to meet the real-world energy needs of Australian households and industry.

This paper demonstrates that energy security has been given insufficient attention by energy policy-makers. It should in fact be the priority of all governments.