Thursday, 18 August 2022

Constituency questions

Western Victoria Region

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:34): (1922) My constituency question is for the Minister for Planning and concerns the recent public hearing into Viva Energy’s proposed gas terminal in Geelong. Absolutist opposition to using gas is a real danger to our energy security, our economy and even the ordered transition to a more renewables-reliant future. This government, which could hardly be described as pragmatic on energy matters, recognises in its recent gas substitution road map that gas must be a part of our energy mix until at least the 2040s. The current Victorian gas crisis and spiralling prices show not just the consequence of extraction and exploration bans but also what happens when a hostile activist mindset makes investment in pipeline and terminal infrastructure so difficult. Minister, will you take a step to repair the damage the Andrews government has done to Victoria’s energy landscape and rapidly improve this important— (Time expired)