Tuesday, 30 July 2024

Petitions

Smart meters

Jeff BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) presented a petition bearing 269 signatures:

The petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council that current regulations in Victoria do not allow for the disabling of the remote function of electricity smart meters. The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) advise, “There have been anecdotal reports into potential health effects of exposure to RF EME [radio frequency electromagnetic energy] from smart meters claiming of a variety of ill effects that have been generally termed ‘electromagnetic hypersensitivity’ or EHS.” The current options to assist customers, offered by distributors United Energy and Powercor, do not address health concerns as they do not allow for the removal of this direct source of RF EME from properties. According to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania, “When your smart meter is installed you can ask your retailer to disable its communications functions.” The AER states that, “All new and replacement electricity meters are required to be smart meters (except in the Northern Territory and Western Australia).” Regarding their digital water meter program, Coliban Water in Bendigo, Victoria, advise that because their digital data loggers do not allow for the remote function to be disabled, customers can opt out of having the device installed. The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to change regulations in Victoria to allow for the disabling of the remote function of electricity smart meters.

Jeff BOURMAN: I move:

That the petition be taken into consideration on the next day of meeting.

Motion agreed to.