Tuesday, 29 August 2023

Energy policy

David HODGETT (Croydon) (19:06): (315) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Energy and Resources, and the action I seek is for the minister to urgently consult with all stakeholders from the gas industry over the government’s shock decision to ban gas connections in new homes from 1 January 2024. Minister, the ban on connections for new homes to the reticulated gas network locks the Victorian community into higher gas and electricity prices in the future. It also puts Victorians at a disadvantage by removing the opportunity for the use of renewable gases in the future. Despite your claim of savings costs on energy bills, you continue to deny transparency by not releasing the modelling on how these savings will be achieved. The claim that an all-electric home costs the same to build as a gas and electric home has not been reflected in the market, with all-electric homes by major builders costing substantially more. With this ban on gas you are jeopardising the reliability, security and affordability of all energy for all Victorians.

Furthermore, replacing locally manufactured appliances with fully imported appliances will offshore 4000 Victorian jobs and cost consumers more. I am aware that the gas industry is on its own decarbonisation path, which will see renewable net zero carbon gases replace traditional fossil fuels in pipe networks, allowing customers to transition to net zero appliances at the lowest capital cost compared to electric appliances. The pathway to a decarbonised future must be at the lowest cost, not just at any cost. So I ask again the minister to meet and consult with key gas industry stakeholders to discuss her reasonings for placing a ban on gas connections in new homes and allow those impacted by the decision to have some input or at least be consulted.

Minister, I have received a great many representations from gas manufacturers, industry reps, associations, plumbers et cetera et cetera. The consistent message I hear is no consultation, no debate, no consideration of the hardship this is going to cause to Victorians and no reasonable time to readjust given to the hundreds of thousands of Victorians who will be adversely impacted. Furthermore, why has the government made this announcement at a time when Victoria’s Gas Substitution Roadmap is scheduled for review before 1 January 2024? Will the government not like the outcome of this review? Why? Again, the action I seek is for the minister to urgently consult with all stakeholders from the gas industry over the government’s shock decision to ban gas connections in new homes from 1 January 2024.