Thursday, 4 August 2022

Ministers statements: climate change

Ms D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park—Minister for Energy, Minister for Environment and Climate Action, Minister for Solar Homes) (14:26): Speaker, I take this opportunity to congratulate you formally on your ascendancy.

I rise to update the house on the nation-leading climate action agenda being delivered by the Andrews Labor government. Since we were elected we have slashed emissions by almost 30 per cent and delivered almost $2 billion of investment, and our 2030 target to cut emissions by 50 per cent is leading the nation, standing side by side with international leaders and delivering the most rapid decarbonisation of any state in the country. Our massive climate change action has created thousands of jobs, driven billions of dollars of investment and delivered the greatest increase in renewable generation in a single year of any state ever.

Mr Newbury interjected.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Brighton, you can leave the chamber for the period of 1 hour.

Member for Brighton withdrew from chamber.

Ms D’AMBROSIO: But unfortunately some do not share our ambitions or indeed pretend that they would do better. They never have, and they never will. In fact there are those who voted against every climate change action, every climate change and renewable energy bill introduced into this place, a critical fact that they continue to deny. Today we have debated vital reforms to the Victorian energy upgrades program, the largest and most effective energy efficiency program in the whole country. The program has reduced Victoria’s emissions by more than 73 million tonnes, the equivalent of taking 22 million cars off the road, while saving households hundreds of dollars and businesses thousands of dollars. Those who are on the climate change road to Damascus claim that they have been converted, but at the first opportunity to show their worth while debating this legislation they barely showed up—empty at the back, in the middle and at the front. Then of course others flagrantly misrepresent how quickly our gas substitution road map will be delivered. They say that because they know we are on the right track, and you will only get that from our government.