Thursday, 29 May 2025

Energy policy

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (21:50): (1685) I notice that steps have been taken in recent day, including tonight, to announce the likelihood of a gas import terminal for Victoria. What I am seeking from the Minister for Energy and Resources is a clear indication that energy prices will not rise further. We understand that the state government has now got itself in a desperate position with respect to gas. No exploration licence has been issued since 2013 in Victoria. The gas supply is dwindling from Bass Strait, and the state government has not done enough to foster or support gas exploration and the bringing on of new onshore conventional gas, which could actually solve many of our problems. Instead of doing that the state government is now trying to cover its nearly 11 years of failure by actually building an import terminal. An import terminal carries the risk of further increases in gas prices. We have already seen gas and electricity prices surging in Victoria. So what I seek from the minister is a guarantee that any gas import terminal built in Victoria will not result in increased gas prices for Victorian consumers and instead that the state government change its attitude to gas, encourage more exploration and allow a proper process to bring on new onshore conventional gas. The risk here, like all Labor failures, is they cannot manage money. They cannot manage a proper process.

Members interjecting.

David DAVIS: Well, 16 per cent is the electricity increase in the last 12 months to the last March quarter in Victoria. That is the ABS figure. Victoria’s electricity price has gone up by 16 per cent, and gas prices similarly. There have been huge increases in gas and electricity prices over the last 11 years under Lily D’Ambrosio and Jacinta Allan. Those increases are hitting families and they are hitting businesses. That is why I am seeking this guarantee that the import terminal that the government is seeking to build will not lead to increased gas prices for consumers, households or businesses.