Tuesday, 3 February 2026

 Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (21:03): (2255) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Premier, and the action I seek is for the government to make coal and gas companies pay for the damage caused by the summer bushfires and floods. In the last couple of weeks Victoria experienced record temperatures that are not normal, with north-west country Victoria the hardest hit, reaching temperatures up to almost 50 degrees. This summer we have seen ravaging bushfires across our regional communities, with thick clouds of smoke engulfing skies across the state. My thoughts remain with everyone affected, particularly the family and loved ones of Max Hobson, the cattle farmer who lost his life. One death is one too many. Alongside this tragic loss 434 homes have been destroyed, 28 homes significantly damaged and 1054 buildings impacted. More than 34,000 livestock have been lost along with over 100,000 hectares of agricultural land, and these figures are expected to rise.

When we talk about climate change, we too often overlook climate-related disparities. While many of us have access to air conditioning, there are many in our community during record temperatures that did not have access to these facilities: people living with disability, older Victorians, people living in overcrowded housing. Extreme heat is a silent killer. It drives hospital admissions, worsens chronic illness and places enormous strain on our health system, often without the visibility of other disasters. I also want to take a moment to thank our emergency services professionals for the extraordinary work that they do to protect lives, homes and communities. So many, we have seen during this season of bushfires, sacrificed their own homes while trying to save the homes of their neighbours. Premier, why are you and your Labor government refusing to acknowledge and link these extreme weather events to the climate emergency we are already in? Our state has the capacity to build a future powered by clean, renewable energy; that means choosing industries and jobs that support people and communities and transitioning out of coal and gas projects that put lives and livelihoods at an increased risk. This Labor government has a poor record when it comes to protecting Victoria’s natural environment and oceans. If governments continue to prioritise fossil fuel profits over people’s safety and future, it will get worse. Premier, will you stand up to the vested interests of these coal and gas companies and make them pay for the damage they are inflicting on Victorian lives and communities?