Tuesday, 10 September 2024

Ministers statements: State Electricity Commission

Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:38): I am absolutely delighted to update the house on how the SEC is delivering government-owned renewable energy to keep the lights on. Some of them are a little bit dimwitted in here, but we have always got the lights on on this side of the house. And power bills –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! I have repeatedly asked today for members to be respectful of members on their feet. The minister to continue, without assistance.

Lily D’AMBROSIO: Last Friday I was absolutely delighted to join with the Premier and the member for Sydenham in Plumpton. And why was that? Because we visited the SEC’s first project in Plumpton. This is not just any battery, it is one of the biggest in the world – 1.6 gigawatt hours that can power 200,000 homes during the peak period of 5 pm to 9 pm. Not only will this big battery give us 600 megawatts of energy storage capacity, it will also enable the connection and the building of 1800 megawatts of new renewable energy projects that can connect into three renewable energy zones right across our state. This is about accelerating the renewable energy build and delivering on our target, keeping the lights on and the bills down and creating 59,000 jobs by 2035 – and all of this on this side of the house. That is what we are delivering because we are not a bunch of dimwitted people; we actually keep the lights on for everyone to see.

We met some fantastic apprentices. That is all part of our commitment. As we create 59,000 jobs by 2035, we are also creating 6000 apprenticeships and traineeships. Not only is the SEC back in the business of building the big projects, creating the jobs and accelerating that transition; the SEC right now is out in three municipalities – Casey, Ballarat and Merri-bek – helping families to electrify their homes and save on their energy bills. This is what we will deliver, and we will keep doing it.