Thursday, 17 August 2023

Energy policy

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:10): (243) My question is to the Minister for Environment. Minister, I note the Andrews Labor government’s decision to ban natural gas connections to new builds and ask: did the minister or your department consider the role of green hydrogen delivered by the gas pipeline network in both supporting Victorian families and businesses and providing an alternative mechanism to deliver green hydrogen?

The PRESIDENT: If anyone wants to raise a point of order, they are free to. But it is not for the Minister for Environment; it is for the minister for energy. If you want that question directed to the minister for energy, I am sure the minister will accommodate that and send it to that minister.

David DAVIS: On a point of order, President, my question was: did the minister or her department? She can answer ‘No, it’s not my responsibility’ if she wants to, but the question is a very simple one: did she or her department? It necessarily involves her.

The PRESIDENT: Do not let me paraphrase it too badly, but my understanding was that what you were asking is: did the minister or her department consider something that is not within their responsibility?

David DAVIS: There is an environmental impact. Was she involved? Did she have anything to say? Did they look at this? Did they examine this? She can just say no. It is a whole thing: it includes planning, it includes energy, it includes environment.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Davis, what about I put the question, and if the minister says it is not her responsibility that will probably be the answer.

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, Minister for Environment) (12:12): Just because I am in the same department as Minister D’Ambrosio, it does not mean I am responsible for energy policy under the general order, and I would advise Mr Davis to more appropriately direct his question to the minister for energy.

David Davis: On a point of order, President, many of these policy areas touch a number of different areas, and in this case I am asking whether she had any involvement or not. She can say she did not, but –

The PRESIDENT: A more than acceptable answer from a minister is: ‘That is not my responsibility under the executive order.’ That is an answer, so she has given an answer. You can ask a supplementary, but I do not know how you actually will be able to pull that one off. Over to you.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:13): Does government policy see any role for green hydrogen delivered via the gas pipeline network?

The PRESIDENT: The minister can answer as she sees fit.

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, Minister for Environment) (12:14): Thank you, President. This is not in my portfolio of responsibilities. Again, I would invite Mr Davis to direct his questions in question time to the correct minister.