Tuesday, 7 May 2024

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Energy policy

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (12:05): My question is to the Premier. Federal Labor energy minister Chris Bowen told industry representatives in Melbourne last week that:

… with current supplies of gas dwindling, new supply will be needed …

In light of this, why is the Premier opposed to any new onshore conventional gas production in Victoria?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (12:06): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question, because when the Leader of the Opposition asks his questions it often gives me the opportunity to correct the misinformation that he holds. I do not know whether he is briefed incorrectly or he is deliberately trying to spread this misinformation, but it gives me the opportunity to provide the information to the Leader of the Opposition that he appears to need, which is that there is exploration going on right now. There is exploration going on right now, but our overall settings when it comes to supporting the Victorian community – this includes households and business – on the journey that we are on and that we need to take through our energy transmission are to support and increase the growth in the renewable energy sector in our state.

We are doing this for two simple reasons: it is a more secure future energy supply and also it is cheaper. It is a cheaper energy supply. You do not just have to take my word for it; I point to the last quarterly update from AEMO, which reported Victoria’s energy prices going down, particularly as a consequence of the increasing proportion of renewable energy in our energy mix. Also, if the Leader of the Opposition needs further evidence of how our pathway to increasing renewable energy as our energy mix in this state is working, the recent draft finding from the Essential Services Commission shows that the Victorian default offer – I am looking at the energy minister – was I think $112 lower than what it had previously been.

We will continue to operate in facts. Those facts are that climate change is real and we have to take action in terms of transitioning our energy mix –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question did relate to the federal minister’s quote that current supplies of gas are dwindling, and I would ask you to bring the Premier back to that question.

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

Jacinta ALLAN: I was being directly relevant to the question that went to government’s policies and actions in this area. I was saying that we need to take action. We need to take action because climate change is real. You just have to ask those communities that over the first few months of this year were impacted by flood, fire and the devastating wind event that we saw tear through this state. We are seeing more and more natural disasters come through our state with greater ferocity. We also, as part of that, know that we have to increase renewable energy, and I hope this question is a sign of days gone by when those opposite stopped and blocked renewable energy projects. I hope they are putting that stopping and blocking in the past and will join us in transitioning Victoria to more renewable energy that provides cheaper and more secure energy for our state.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (12:09): In her answer the Premier said that gas exploration is underway as we speak. Can the Premier please inform the house where that exploration is taking place?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (12:10): The advice I have from the energy minister is that there are nine exploration licences underway right now around the onshore gas fields. This is all a pretence. Those opposite might want to perpetuate the culture wars around climate change. That is a choice for them.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! I would hope that when a question is asked the house will be able to hear the answer.

John Pesutto: On a point of order, Speaker, the Premier is debating the question. Can I ask her to address the question.

Mary-Anne Thomas: On the point of order, Speaker, the Premier was being directly relevant to the supplementary question, and I ask that you let her continue.

The SPEAKER: I ask the Premier to be mindful of the question and to come back to the question.

Jacinta ALLAN: Whilst this exploration is going on, we are also going to do everything we can to increase our renewable energy mix. Can I also say that does include, as we continue to see more investment in solar and wind and in battery storage, that we also need to invest in the transmission that gets this renewable energy source – a more secure, cheaper energy source – to households and businesses. So I hope this is a sign that the opposition are going to join us on this journey and put the culture wars of the past to rest.