Energy policy
James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:17): My question is to the Minister for Energy and Resources. The Deputy Premier proudly told ABC Drive that ‘I have gas at home … We’re keeping it’. Is it government policy that all Victorians who have gas at home can keep using it?
Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:18): I am really delighted to have this question come my way, because what I can tell you is that there is one thing that is absolutely fact in this state: that no-one is having their gas appliances ripped off them. Nobody is having their gas appliances ripped off them. As for my good friend the Deputy Premier, he has been known to walk the corridors of the Parliament with Saul Griffith’s book under his sleeve, The Big Switch, on electrification.
Those opposite can talk all they like about this question, but one thing is for sure: we put geology ahead of ideology, okay? We put geology ahead of ideology. The fact is this: they can guffaw all they like, but a government that is strong on leadership understands the facts of the matter – that Victoria’s gas supplies are dwindling. Therefore we need to ensure that the steps we take do three things. One is that we conserve the supplies of gas that we have in this state for those that need it – the manufacturing industry, industry generally – and of course develop a plan to reduce our reliance on gas, especially in the home. It is also about having conversations with people across the state, which is what we always do. We know that every gas appliance that is swapped out for an electric appliance saves people on their energy bills each and every year.
Those opposite do not care about the cost-of-living pressures on Victorian families. They do not care about it at all. What they are interested in is giving people nuclear energy.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: The member for Laverton can leave the chamber for half an hour.
Member for Laverton withdrew from chamber.
James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is now debating the question.
The SPEAKER: The minister to come back to the question.
Lily D’AMBROSIO: There is one party that the Victorian public can trust when it comes to cost-of-living pressures and putting downward pressure on energy bills, and that is this side of the house – protecting consumers against greedy, privatised businesses on the other side, whether they are electricity businesses or gas businesses. That is what our agenda is, and we will get on and get it done, reducing people’s energy bills.
James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is now defying your ruling.
The SPEAKER: The minister has concluded her answer.
James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:21): The federal Labor Minister for Resources has said, ‘We need gas to help us achieve our commitment to net zero.’ The Deputy Premier has said that ‘a lot of Victorians like cooking with gas’. In light of pro-gas comments by federal Labor MPs, why does the minister persist with her ideological ban against gas?
Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:22): I thank the member for the supplementary question. Can I make it very, very clear that the only ban on gas in Victoria is a ban on fracking. Maybe those opposite have changed their minds on supporting the Victorian government’s ban on fracking. But I can tell you what, on this side of the house this government is absolutely committed to reducing people’s energy costs. We do that and we fight that every single day with policies, with programs and with ways of assisting people to meet cost-of-living pressures. We are not blinded by ideology, unlike those on the other side. We see the facts of the matter, we tackle the challenges that our state is facing on dwindling supplies of gas and we make sure that Victorians can have the options available to them to actually save every single year on their energy bills. That is what this government delivers to Victorians, unlike those opposite, who simply want to send energy costs skyrocketing through the reintroduction of nuclear.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: The behaviour of members in the chamber today is disgraceful. More members will be removed for disgraceful behaviour.