Tuesday, 19 March 2024

Ministers statements: energy policy

Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:33): I am absolutely pleased to update the house on how the Allan Labor government is delivering real cost-of-living relief through lower power bills. Today’s draft Victorian default offer will see 536,000 Victorian households save on average $112 off their annual power bill after 1 July. Bills for small businesses will also go down by $266. For the 176,000 Victorians living in caravan parks, retirement homes and apartments with embedded networks, the VDO is the maximum they can be charged, and we are the only state delivering for embedded networks. All this is money back in the pockets of more than half a million Victorian families and 58,000 small businesses.

We introduced the VDO to make sure Victorians get the best electricity offers in the country and cheaper bills, and it is working. Today’s draft VDO is $317 cheaper than the national default market offer that was released today for households and $1328 less for small businesses. For example, a Victorian small business will pay $1861 less than the same business in South Australia. I ask: why wouldn’t you want to live or do business in Victoria? Absolutely every good reason.

Victorians can save even more by shopping around, with the average residential market offer $225 less than the VDO and $195 less for businesses. Ultimately, the prices are coming down because of Victoria’s massive investment in renewable energy consistently giving us the lowest wholesale prices in the nation. We are now at 39.3 per cent renewable energy, and that is why this is delivering a real dollar benefit to Victorians today, tomorrow and into the future.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, I have a number of matters that I would like to raise that are overdue for being answered. Question on notice 943 to the Minister for Jobs and Industry regarding the Manufacturing and Industry Development Fund is overdue, as are question on notice ‍944 to the Minister for Jobs and Industry about state budget funding for the minerals and extractive industry, question on notice 945, again to the Minister for Jobs and Industry, question on notice 946 to the Minister for Jobs and Industry on the native timber industry and question on notice 957 to the Minister for Public and Active Transport regarding bus services on Clegg Road. Also overdue is adjournment matter 509 to the Minister for Water regarding flood mitigation in my community, and constituency question 476 to the Minister for Public and Active Transport is also overdue. If those matters could please be followed up for my community and the state of Victoria, that would be great.