Thursday, 4 June 2026

 Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (04:24): (2564) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Energy and Resources. The action I seek is for the minister to take urgent action to increase the reliability of electricity supply to homes and businesses across Northern Victoria Region. I have been contacted by a number of constituents from a wide variety of areas across my constituency of Northern Victoria who all have the same complaint: under the Allan Labor government’s failed energy policy, electricity supply is too unreliable and too expensive, and Victorian businesses are the ones paying the price.

The Roam Rutherglen Winery Walkabout is on this weekend. It is an annual showcase for many of Victoria’s outstanding wineries, including All Saints, Morris, Campbells, Stanton & Killeen and many other iconic wineries. The event draws tourists from all over our state, as well as interstate and overseas visitors. But winery and hospitality operators are seriously worried that the event could be disrupted following a recent wave of power outages in the area. If power outages occur this weekend during the winery walkabout, it could shut down restaurants, cafes, bars, coolstores, wine fridges and cellar doors. Vintners also tell me that the frequent power outages disrupt the processing of wine, which needs to be kept at a stable temperature. Power outages in the area are nothing new. This issue has been going on for years, and yet the Labor government has totally failed to deliver a permanent solution.

The communities of Kilmore, Wandong and surrounds have also run out of patience with unreliable energy supply. After four major power outages in the past two weeks alone, locals are outraged and have begun campaigning for improved reliability and safety in central Victoria’s electrical network. These residents are no stranger to the occasional power outage, but the frequency and length of unexpected recent outages, combined with the lack of adequate communication around scheduled outages, is leaving locals incredibly frustrated.

I also hear from dairy farmers throughout Northern Victoria about their concern that the increasing unreliability of the network could be a serious issue. Milk processing needs a steady and constant supply of electricity. Short interruptions to power can spoil a whole day’s milking if it cannot be kept below 4 degrees Celsius and could require it being thrown away.

Under Labor’s watch power reliability in our state is declining, and it is just not good enough. The electricity grid is already under pressure and regularly fails industry and business, yet services will only get worse. Demand for electricity in our state is expected to increase significantly because of Labor’s anti-gas ideology that is forcing domestic customers to get off gas and switch to electricity for their home appliances. Be under no illusions: businesses will not tolerate this forever and will leave and move to other states if they cannot get the standard of service they need in Victoria. The minister must take urgent action to increase the reliability of electricity supply to homes and businesses across Northern Victoria.