Ministers statements: renewable energy
Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:05): I am very excited to inform the house on how Victoria’s leadership in renewable energy is world leading and is now being recognised globally. I was pleased to announce today that Victoria has been admitted as the first subnational government member of the prestigious Global Offshore Wind Alliance, joining countries like Denmark, Spain, Belgium, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany and the USA and leading developers of the offshore wind energy sector. It is because of this leadership that Victoria will have a seat at the global table to accelerate offshore wind power across the world, delivering at least 2 gigawatts by 2032 in Victoria, 4 by 2035 and 9-gigawatt capacity by 2040. And that is not all. Victoria is leading on renewable energy; delivering thousands of jobs – 59,000 by 2035; putting downward pressure on bills; and lowering emissions. Since 2014 we have tripled our share of cheap renewable energy. We are up there with 37 per cent of our electricity.
It is not just the big projects that we are leading in. Right now more than 233,000 Victorian households have solar panels installed, thanks to our bill-busting Solar Homes program, not to mention that more than 14,000 household batteries and hot-water systems are also now going gangbusters. Our targets of 95 per cent renewables by 2035 and net zero by 2045 are world leading, make no mistake about that. While those opposite talk about looking into bringing nuclear energy to Victoria and declaring that, it would lock in large, long-term bill increases for decades. This government is delivering more renewable energy and government-owned energy led by the SEC, and we are getting it done.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Members will be removed from the chamber without warning. I will not tolerate this level of interjection.