Ministers statements: energy policy
Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:13): I am absolutely delighted to update the house on how our 100 neighbourhood batteries program is driving down power bills, slashing emissions and putting power back in the hands of the people. We are delivering on that. Ninety neighbourhood batteries are already in place or on their way, like the Phillip Island battery, to store more cheap solar energy, which I know the member for Bass is very excited about; the Mata Chintapurni Mandir temple in St Albans, estimated to be able to put $17,000 in energy savings towards free meals for the wider community; batteries for social housing to lower power bills by around $200 every year in the electorates of Preston, Oakleigh, Geelong and Pascoe Vale; batteries for the regions to provide backup power at community hubs, which locals in the electorates of Wendouree, Macedon and Bendigo West will all benefit from; batteries at Salvation Army food banks and shelters, expected to create around $790,000 in energy savings and additional income to frontline services that are run by the Salvos in Eureka, Ripon, Dandenong, Lara, Kalkallo, Bayswater, Etham Park and Box Hill. And that is not all. Round 3 is now open for new applications for more batteries in more neighbourhoods.
We are getting on with rolling out cheap, reliable renewables and storage, helping put power back in the hands of Victorians. Meanwhile those opposite will scrap net zero, will sell off the SEC, will stop new renewable energy projects and will frack Victoria, pushing up energy bills for every Victorian, whereas I say to every Victorian: the Allan Labor government is on your side every day.