Thursday, 24 March 2022

Electric vehicles

Mr KENNEDY (Hawthorn) (17:08): (6299) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, and the action I seek is for the minister to give an update on how the government is encouraging and supporting the uptake of electric vehicles in Hawthorn. I trust that we all saw the recent IPCC report, which details the brief and rapidly closing window that we have to avoid the catastrophic events of climate change. My own constituents have regularly contacted my office and me about this issue and I have frequently met with local environmental groups. I am sure we have all seen the massive global protests and the wider movement calling for climate action, and these calls are especially strong in Hawthorn. Our student community around Swinburne University has been especially vocal in fighting for their future, and these young people serve to remind us of just how important this issue is. However, it is people from all walks of life, young and old, from tradies to teachers, who continue to fight for meaningful climate action.

I am proud to be part of a government that just recently announced plans to make Victoria an offshore wind giant by 2032, when 1.5 million homes will be powered by renewable energy. Indeed it is now the state governments around Australia taking the lead on this vital issue in the absence of meaningful federal action. The transition to electric vehicles is an integral part of this progress, as transport emissions make up 17.6 per cent of our greenhouse gas emissions. The Andrews government has made concrete commitments to combat climate change and increase the uptake of electric vehicles. We are going to reduce greenhouse emissions by 28 to 33 per cent by 2025 and 45 to 50 per cent by 2030, eventually reaching net zero by 2050. More than 25 per cent of our electricity already comes from renewable sources, and we have invested $1.6 billion in clean energy and energy efficiency in the 2020 Victorian budget. These goals, with the funding and policy to back them up, show we are a government dedicated to combating climate change. I look forward to the minister’s response.