BUYING expensive New South Wales coal and shipping it to Collie has been a waste of money, according to South West MLC Steve Thomas.
“It was completely unnecessary,” Mr Thomas said yesterday.
His comments follow questions asked in State Parliament this week.
Mr Thomas, who is the shadow energy minister, said there are still some 59,000 tonnes remaining of the initial order of 100,000 tonnes shipped from Newcastle.
This coal is to be blended with Collie coal and it is anticipated it will take until October before it is burned.
The ratio of Collie coal mixed with the Newcastle coal has increased from a rate of seven-to-one in March to 10-to-one to make it more compatible with the locally sourced product.
The State Government imported the coal last December to ensure the power supply was not interrupted over the summer months.
Mr Thomas said the fact the bulk of the coal was still unburnt proved there was no emergency.
“We are five months down the track and they are less than halfway through it, only burning 300 tonnes a day,” he said.
Mr Thomas said it was “hilarious” for the government to say it had to get the coal to “keep the lights on”. 
“They are now struggling to use it. ‘Yes Minister’ couldn't write this stuff, it's just hilarious, and so much for the emergency.”
Mr Thomas said the government has “completely messed up its transition plan. “It’s more than just bringing coal from Newcastle to Collie.
“We paid over $300 million for it and it’s now been proven to have been completely unnecessary and a waste of money.
“Maybe they should hold it over to next summer for the next ‘emergency’.”