Oil and gas exploration
Ms SANDELL (Melbourne) (14:24): My question today is to the Premier. Premier, over the weekend the federal election saw big swings away from both major parties towards parties and candidates who campaigned for stronger action on climate change than either of the two major parties were offering. Yet last week the Victorian Labor government’s oil and gas regulator gave final approval to gas drilling near the Twelve Apostles Marine National Park. Given that Victorians have clearly now shown they do not want any more climate-destroying oil and gas projects, will the government reverse this approval for this gas project?
Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (14:25): My honourable friend the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change points out there has been a slight change in wording. It used to be right in the heart of the Twelve Apostles, now it is ‘near’. Like, seriously—just change the facts to suit your narrative. There was also quite a big vote for the United Australia Party, who do not think climate change is real. So let us be clear. If all of us are asked to give our interpretations on the federal election, I will hazard a guess that they might well be quite self-serving interpretations, and this is a pretty self-serving interpretation. Because do you know what matters more than talking about climate change?
Members interjecting.
Mr ANDREWS: Actually doing something about it—actually doing something about it. You can bemoan fossil fuels all you want, but unless you get off and do something about it, then we will remain reliant upon them. There is a reason why the Clean Energy Council says Victoria is the centre of renewable energy in our nation—because, member for Melbourne, with respect, we are. We are, and we cannot power our homes with the words of some. We can only power our homes and businesses and not harm the planet by actually delivering a renewable energy, low emissions agenda—an actual agenda—not a slogan, not a one-liner, not a pamphlet, not a triangle, but an actual agenda.
By the way, why wouldn’t you get on and deliver that agenda? It is great for the planet, great for jobs, and it delivers reliable, lower cost energy for households and businesses. Now, there is a reason. When I was at the Committee for Economic Development of Australia recently I made some announcements. One can only think what the Greens’ view of CEDA is, but it has got the term ‘economic development’ in it, so not very much, I would think. I made announcements about Australia’s first ever offshore wind targets. That is to say, no such target exists anywhere else in our nation. And look, to be fair to the rest of the nation, it is not just about our leadership; it is also about the richness of our wind resource off our coast. There is enough power for all of Melbourne and most of Adelaide. There are enough jobs for 6500 families. It is investment pushing $10 billion—indeed more than that in fact; it might well be closer to $40 billion if the whole vision is realised.
So all I would say to the member for Melbourne is: there are lots who talk about these issues. I am not being critical of them—it is fine; talk is fine and if that is all you offer, then offer it—but the better thing and the more important thing is to get on and get the job done, and that is what our government is doing.
Ms SANDELL (Melbourne) (14:28): The Premier in his answer talked a lot about action. So let us talk about action. Last week at Victoria’s budget estimates we learned that since the Victorian Labor government lifted the ban on onshore gas drilling they have now approved 12 new onshore gas production licences across farmland and bushland in Victoria. That is the action that has been taken. Now, Victorians made it very clear with their votes on the weekend—I do not think anyone can dispute that climate was front and centre of people’s votes—that people want action on climate change and to move away from coal and gas. Given this, will the Victorian government now act and revoke these 12 new gas licences which are making climate change worse?
Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (14:28): I am afraid I cannot accept the contention that the government is not acting. There is probably not enough time—for every answer in question time there is not enough time—to go through all the things we are doing. But I can shed some further light on why we might have gone from describing this as literally at the base of one of the Twelve Apostles to now ‘near’. I am advised that the well in question is 7 kilometres from the Twelve Apostles and just a lazy 1.3 kilometres below—below—the ground and below the seabed. So, always good to check the facts. Always assume that the narrative has been crafted in such a way as to support a particular world view. Well, world views do not keep the lights on, pamphlets do not keep the lights on, half-well-drafted questions do not keep the lights on. Only Labor government climate change action—not Green words, but Labor action—will keep the lights on and save our planet.