Wednesday, 30 October 2019

Ministers statements: Solar Homes program

Ms D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park—Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Solar Homes) (11:28): I rise to update the house on the solar boom that is sweeping our state thanks to the Solar Homes program. I would normally offer the house a list of the top 10 electorates, but I feel today that 11 is more appropriate, because it tells an even better story in terms of our Solar Homes program. I know these numbers have a special resonance for the Leader of the Opposition.

But in terms of what this means for communities right across our state, over 16 000 families have installed solar in the top 10 electorates and 30 000 families are enjoying solar panels in the top 31 electorates, and with 46 000 systems installed across the state, Melbourne’s booming outer suburbs and regional Victoria are leading the pack. Out in the south-eastern suburbs, 3000 systems have been installed in the electorate of Cranbourne, 1400 in Narre Warren South and 1100 systems in Bass. Over in the western suburbs, 2300 systems have been installed in the electorate of Tarneit, 1600 systems installed in Altona and 880 families are loving this in the electorate of Kororoit. In the northern suburbs, 1600 families in Yuroke and 1000 families in Yan Yean are all enjoying their new rooftop solar generators, and a massive 40 per cent of rebates have gone to families in regional Victoria, with more than 800 systems installed in Bendigo West, for example, 700 systems in Wendouree and 880 households in South Barwon.

These are a beautiful set of numbers—a beautiful set of numbers. Eleven of the best—legs 11. We know the way that we can deliver to Victorian families. Legs 11, or, in other words, a dirty dozen minus one. Victorians are loving the Solar Homes program, they love the jobs, they love the reduced power bills and they love doing their part for reducing emissions.