Tuesday, 19 March 2024

Ministers statements: energy policy

Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Jobs and Industry, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Minister for Women) (14:28): I rise to update the house on Victoria’s renewable energy and the targets that are creating thousands of jobs and increasing opportunities for industry across Victoria. Last week I had the pleasure of launching the renewable jobs taskforce with the Minister for Energy and Resources. This has been able to bring together experts from across industry, unions and the community to give us expert advice and insights on how we can grow the renewable energy industry and also create sustainable jobs for the future.

Victoria is positioned to be Australia’s offshore wind powerhouse, and the renewable jobs taskforce is ensuring we maximise opportunities for local businesses and industry through our local content requirements. This government has already created over 5000 jobs by building large-scale renewable energy projects across every corner of this state, and we will continue to do so. From the Solar Homes program through to the SEC, we know that there are thousands of jobs that we have created – 5000 in fact – that are on target to be delivered by 2028. Victoria’s renewable energy targets will create overall 59,000 jobs, including 6000 apprentices and trainees.

We are backing local industry to develop the skills and capability needed to capitalise on these opportunities, and we are supporting them through our Made in Victoria grants, both the energy technologies manufacturing program and the manufacturing growth program. As Victoria moves towards renewable energies and we continue to create jobs, we have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation at 3.9 per cent, in stark contrast to when those opposite were tossed out, with the unemployment rate at a dismal 6.7.