Wednesday, 13 August 2025

Ministers statements: working from home

Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:13): I rise to update the house on how Victorians are working in some of the most energy-efficient workplaces out there: their homes. On this side of the house we know that working from home works for families, is great for their wallets and is good for the economy. It is why the Allan Labor government is enshrining the right to work from home in law. But we are also making sure that homes and home offices are more comfortable to work in and live in and more energy-efficient. Our Solar Homes program has helped more than 400,000 Victorian homes install solar panels, energy-efficient hot-water systems and batteries, slashing their energy bills each and every day. There are millions of solar panels installed on homes across the state, generating free power every day, and with greater electrification what that will mean is you can put that free solar energy to even better use, saving you even more money on your energy bills whilst you are also working from home.

Our Victorian energy upgrades program has installed more than 41,000 energy-efficient heating and cooling upgrades this year alone, so we know that there are plenty of warm, comfortable home offices out there this winter. Even better, these upgrades are helping those households save more than $1000 off their energy bills each and every year – a more efficient, more comfortable home, saving households money and helping those mums and dads to work even more comfortably themselves from home. But we know what some would do if they had the chance. Solar Homes rebates would go. VEU discounts for electrification would go. Absolutely bills would go up. Energy bills would go through the roof, and the rights of mums and dads to work from home would also be gone. It is absolutely clear, whichever way you look at it, that only the Allan Labor government is on the side of families working at home or outside the home.