Wednesday, 30 August 2023

Energy policy

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (18:17): (446) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Energy and Resources and concerns her department’s Offshore Wind Policy Directions Paper, published in March 2022. On page 19, figure 7 states that achieving the 60 gigawatts of generation needed for the state’s 95 per cent renewable energy target using only onshore wind and solar could require up to 70 per cent of Victoria’s agricultural land. The figure was discussed in the Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee’s inquiry into renewable energy in Victoria public hearings. In the final report – I think it bears repetition:

… it could require the use of up to 70% of Victoria’s agricultural land.

Of course I am sure the minister would say that figure would only apply were all of Victoria’s electricity to be generated by onshore wind and solar. But the truth is the vast majority of it will be. The government itself says 60 gigawatts of electrical generation will be required for energy decarbonisation, yet the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action’s own commitment to offshore wind is just 4 gigawatts by 2035 and then 9 gigawatts by 2040. That leaves an enormous gap to 60 gigawatts, one which can only be bridged by a massive increase in onshore wind and solar. So the action I seek from the minister is to provide for Victorians a forecast on where that 60 gigawatts will come from. What percentage will come from onshore wind and solar, and consequently what percentage of Victorian agricultural land will be required? Does she agree with VicGrid CEO Alistair Parker who, when questioned at a public meeting, is reported to have said the percentage will be more like 55 per cent? In any case, this would be an absolute transformation of our state. For too long we have pretended that shiny green generation could exist without dirty great transmission lines. Without honesty on this transformation of Victorian land use, we will have the same kind of deception perpetrated on the Victorian people. We need up-front, honest information on the final destination now, not a field-by-field loss as we creep towards the targets.