Wednesday, 25 May 2022

Ministers statements: renewable energy training

Ms D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park—Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Solar Homes) (14:34): I am pleased to update the house on how our government is delivering on the jobs of the future and how we are skilling up Victorians for the energy transition. Last month I joined Minister Tierney, who announced that the course in working safely in the solar industry will be added as a free TAFE short course from 1 July this year. This will give electricians, plumbers, solar PV workers and battery installers the skills they need to install PV and solar hot-water systems safely.

And the question is: why is this so important? Because we are creating more jobs in this sector, which requires more Victorians having the skills to be able to fill those jobs. Creating the jobs means creating the skills for people to be able to fill those jobs and to be able to do them safely. To date 4500 solar workers have completed this training, with the course now being expanded to 12 TAFEs, including seven in regional Victoria. Through Solar Victoria we are also investing $11 million to deliver comprehensive training and workforce development programming, ensuring that the industry is safe and can support the success of the Solar Homes program, which has just ticked over a whopping 200 000 installations—200 000 families now have solar panels on their roof, saving money.

We are helping Victorians to skill up to be part of the clean energy revolution, and this jobs revolution is going from strength to strength. You only have to have a look at our offshore wind energy strategy, which of course will create 6400 jobs between now and when we actually build these projects, which requires more people with the skills necessary and creating those skills now to fill the jobs that we are creating through these very, very strong targets. 24 000 jobs are being created between now and 2030 as part of our renewable energy ambition and revolution. We have more and more young people and those transitioning from other jobs wanting to be part of it. This is what is called living in Victoria under a Labor government.

Mr Wells: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker, I raise two unanswered questions: one lodged on 8 June last year—can you believe it?—5885, was due to be answered on 7 July and was about visitors being able to visit loved ones in care; and 6174 was lodged on 2 December and was about housing and child protection. These are two very important issues.