Thursday, 29 August 2024

 Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:28): I am delighted to update the house on how today, the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, we are reaffirming our commitment to deliver a cheaper, cleaner renewables future. Our 95 per cent renewable energy target will create 59,000 jobs for Victorians and investment and of course ensure Victoria continues to have, continuously, the lowest wholesale electricity prices in the country. Today the market operator confirmed how important our plan is. AEMO’s annual 10-year reliability forecast says that with our government’s commitments we will deliver the energy reliability that Victorians need well into the future, and we have met every single renewables target that we have set. That tells you that we will absolutely get this work done. We are fast-tracking approvals. I call out the massive 350-megawatt battery that the Minister for Planning approved just this week, and the SEC of course continues to accelerate the build of new projects.

Why are we doing all of this? Because it is the quickest, cheapest way for us to rebuild our energy system. Meanwhile, the Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority, independent experts that provide advice to government and the community on what is safe and what is not safe for the Latrobe Valley coalmines, said in July that it would take decades to make sites safe. The lead times required to construct and commission nuclear facilities and the extensive studies that would be required to ensure the sites are fit for purpose and have adequate risk mitigation measures in place are both massive barriers to nuclear. It would take decades, which no-one has or can afford. On this International Day Against Nuclear Tests the opposition should basically go back and retest their policies, because they are a failure. We cannot afford the delay and disruption.