Tuesday, 11 August 2026

 David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (14:11): (2478) My question is for the Minister for Planning. My constituent in Sunbury is concerned about reports that HiQ are contemplating a hyperscale data centre alongside their proposed waste-to-energy incinerator. This really would be an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord of disgusting developments. My constituent is rightly concerned about the absence of any robust regulatory framework for either waste to energy or data centres. Furthermore, neither has a social licence. If the minister thinks Victorians will continue to accept this lack of transparency and opaque processes, she is sorely mistaken. My constituent asks: will the minister consider a moratorium on waste-to-energy and data centre approvals until genuine community consultation has occurred and appropriate regulations have been ventilated and are in place?