Wednesday, 15 October 2025

 Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:16): I am absolutely excited to inform the house that once the Metro Tunnel switches on in December this year it will be powered by the publicly owned SEC with 100 per cent renewable electricity. The Metro Tunnel will revolutionise public transport in our state – we all know that – with five new stations powered by the SEC. Whenever you are catching the train, wherever it is in metro Melbourne, it will be powered by the SEC. Whether you ride the Pakenham, Sunbury or Cranbourne lines or get on at stations at Narre Warren North, Dandenong, Mulgrave, Oakleigh, Sydenham, St Albans, Laverton or Footscray, all these extra services enabled by the Metro Tunnel will be powered by the publicly owned SEC.

Only Labor governments have the vision and the commitment to deliver the things that matter to Victorians, which is exactly why we brought back the SEC after those opposite sold it off to overseas interests and let foreign interests take all the profits with them while sacking thousands of workers. Thanks to the Allan Labor government, the SEC is back and accelerating the build of renewable energy projects in Victoria – built by Victorians in Victoria for Victorians. So far two major projects are underway at Plumpton and Horsham, creating over 1200 jobs thus far and putting downward pressure on every Victorian’s energy bills. That means also that from next year students who catch the train to school can get on the extra services for free, powered by the SEC, and get to their school, which is powered by the SEC, while mum and dad can get home from work faster thanks to the Metro Tunnel, powered by the SEC. If it was not for the Allan Labor government, investment in Victoria’s cheap, new renewable energy and publicly owned energy would be in terminal decline, much like the Leader of the Opposition’s job.