Thursday, 31 August 2023

Energy security

David HODGETT (Croydon) (14:13): My question is to the Minister for Energy and Resources. Will the minister guarantee there will be no blackouts in Victoria this summer?

Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:13): Do you know, I was thinking about the type of question I would get on this topic today, and I tell you, that was at the bottom of the list. You could have come up with a better question than that, I can tell you. It is absolute nonsense that we have got people over on that side who are absolutely hysterical when it comes to a report that was put out today by the market operator. It is absolutely clear that with the ambitious renewable energy targets and the delivery that we have got on the way, that we have got more than sufficient supply to meet our needs.

Daniel Andrews: We are a net exporter.

Lily D’AMBROSIO: Thank you, Premier. We remain a net exporter of electricity. We are actually producing more supply than –

David Hodgett: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, that was a very straightforward question. I would ask you to bring the minister back to actually answering the question.

The SPEAKER: The minister was being relevant to the question that was asked.

Lily D’AMBROSIO: The good news keeps coming. We had more than 130 renewable energy projects registered with the market operator today, plus the six Victorian renewable energy target 2 projects that we have got underway, plus 11 new projects that are under construction today that will soon provide new electricity supply that will keep us going and continue to be a net exporter. Victoria has had the lowest wholesale electricity prices for the last 12 months. Why does that happen? It is because we have more than –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Gippsland South is warned.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, standing order 58 does require the minister to be direct. The question asked whether the minister would guarantee, and the minister has not yet come to that question.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! As I have repeatedly said, I cannot tell the minister how to answer the question. The minister was being relevant to the question.

Lily D’AMBROSIO: I am absolutely prepared to guarantee one thing, and that is that every action that is positive on this side of the house when it comes to our energy transition will be opposed by those opposite, like they have with every single action that we have taken – absolutely. Banned wind farms, opposed every renewable energy target legislation that we have introduced in this state –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is now debating the question.

The SPEAKER: The minister had strayed a little from answering the question. I do ask her to come back to the question.

Lily D’AMBROSIO: I can guarantee that this government was working hard every single day on how to deliver the energy transition that will keep power bills as low as possible, the lowest in the NEM and making sure we have that clean affordable, renewable electricity supplied to see us through. That is what we are delivering, and we will continue to grow that effort. Those opposite might actually learn a lesson rather than being huddled in a corner with their tinfoil hats on, eating their yellowcake and wondering ‘Oh!’

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! Members will come to order. Clapping is not allowed in the chamber, I remind you. Members will be removed without warning.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, I would ask you to bring the minister back to your previous ruling.

The SPEAKER: The minister has concluded her answer.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Mordialloc! The member for Frankston!

David HODGETT (Croydon) (14:17): Why won’t the minister provide this guarantee that there will be no blackouts in Victoria this summer to vulnerable Victorians who will suffer from forced blackouts?

Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:17): I have been very clear about our agenda. Every year Victorians can grow in their confidence about us having more than sufficient electricity – a supply that is clean, renewable, reliable, cheap, affordable – more than any other state. We have grown 59,000 jobs as we do that, getting to the SEC, having the SEC accelerate that transition, ensuring that we are going to have more projects contracted by the end of the year. From those who opposed wind farms, those who privatised our electricity system, those who slept for four long years knowing that Hazelwood was about to close, I am not going to take any lectures from those opposite about what an affordable reliable power system is because we are getting on and delivering it. Victorians can be confident we are doing just that.