Tuesday, 27 May 2025

Ministers statements: State Electricity Commission

Gabrielle WILLIAMS (Dandenong – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for Public and Active Transport) (14:44): 2025 is a year of switching on. We will be switching on the Metro Tunnel, we will be switching on the West Gate Tunnel and we will be switching on the SEC to power our public transport network. The Allan Labor government is continuing to invest in great transport services –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Bulleen can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Bulleen withdrew from chamber.

Gabrielle WILLIAMS: and soon they will be powered by clean renewable energy. We have already committed to transforming our bus fleet to zero emissions, guaranteeing smoother and quieter journeys for passengers and also cleaner air for communities, but from July this year trains, trams and stations will also go green, joining all the other government services in being powered by the great SEC. Millions of trips across the state each year will run on clean renewable energy. When the member for Sunbury catches a train into the city, he will be travelling on a train powered by the SEC – and someone might even take a photo of you, Bully, while you are there. When the member for Footscray catches a new G-class tram through the new level access tram stops on Droop Street, it will be powered by the SEC. When the member for Pakenham catches a train from the new East Pakenham station, that will be a train station powered by the SEC. This will save 420,000 tonnes of CO₂ across our public transport network, which is about 175,000 cars a year.

Thirty years ago those opposite switched off the SEC. They switched off work on the Metro Tunnel when they had the chance to build it. They switch things off; we switch things on. They switch things off, which is why in 2014, in 2018 and in 2022 voters switched them off, and at this rate they will be doing the same thing in 2026.