Thursday, 15 May 2025

Ministers statements: energy policy

Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:09): I am pleased to report to the house on how the Allan Labor government is helping to slash household energy bills, delivering cheaper renewable energy and helping families move to more energy-efficient homes. Victorians overwhelmingly rejected the Liberal–Nationals nuclear future. They rejected a future with more coal-fired power for longer, a future managing toxic nuclear waste and a future of skyrocketing power bills. Our government will never build nuclear reactors here in Victoria.

[NAMES AWAITING VERIFICATION]

Instead, we are helping families right now to make the switch in their homes away from expensive gas appliances to cheaper-to-run electric ones. Right across our state our programs are slashing energy bills for families, and they are telling us this in their living rooms. With the member for Melton we met with Joan and Ben; with the member for Ashwood, Jenny and Russell; with the member for Northcote, Jan and Daisy; and with the member for Pascoe Vale, Michael and Anne. These people and many more told us the real difference our programs and supports are making to their lives right now and to their bills, saving thousands to install a new appliance and then saving every day on their energy bills.

Do you know what else they told us? That nuclear was not for them, because they know it would cost them a packet, would be decades away and is bad for the planet. They were very unhappy to hear that the Victorian opposition leader was keeping the door open on nuclear during the recent campaign – because he is a weak leader without a backbone.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, not only was the minister saying very baseless, personal reflections, ministerial statements are not a time and opportunity to attack the opposition.

The SPEAKER: Order! I remind the minister about attacking the opposition. Come back to the ministers statement.

Lily D’AMBROSIO: I was reporting on the views of Victorians, who really were very amazed by the Victorian opposition leader’s views. Absolutely I think some people will be very sorry now to have kept the door open on nuclear, because Victorians hate it. We are absolutely on the side of hardworking Victorians, helping them today with their energy bills, and that is exactly what we will continue to do.