Wednesday, 26 August 2026

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (10:02): I lay on the table a statement of compatibility with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006:

In accordance with section 28 of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Charter), I make this statement of compatibility with respect to the Domestic Gas Choice (Repeal of Gas Appliance Ban) Bill 2026.

In my opinion, the Domestic Gas Choice (Repeal of Gas Appliance Ban) Bill 2026, as introduced to the Legislative Council is compatible with the human rights protected by the Charter. I base my opinion on the reasons outlined in this statement.

This Bill seeks to ensure Victorians have the choice how to cook and heat in their own homes. The legislation that this Bill repeals removed choice for Victorians and forced expensive electrification.

Advancing the choice of energy source that Victorians use to cook, heat and heat hot water in their own home is a matter that should not be controlled by government.

The ban on new gas installation restricted choice within the home and the choices of businesses in the fuel they used, and this inherently restricted the rights and choices of those families and businesses. This repeal Bill restores those rights.

It is my view the Bill is compatible with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006.

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (10:02): I lay on the table a statement of compatibility with the Statewide Treaty Act 2025:

In accordance with S 66 of the Statewide Treaty Act 2025, I table a Statement of Treaty Compatibility for the Domestic Gas Choice (Repeal of Gas Appliance Ban) Bill 2026.

In my opinion, the Bill is compatible with the objectives set out in section 66(3)(d) of the Statewide Treaty Act 2025. I base my opinion on the reasons outlined in this statement.

The Domestic Gas Choice (Repeal of Gas Appliance Ban) Bill 2026 seeks to revoke planning scheme amendments that bans the installation of natural gas connections for new dwellings. The Bill further repeals legislative changes enforced by the Labor Government that actions the banning of replacement of gas appliances and gas hot water services.

Labor’s war on gas unjustly effects all Victorians including indigenous Victorians. This Bill will restore choice to indigenous Victorians whose freedoms have been restricted under this Labor Government. Under this Bill indigenous Victorians will have the choice to connect to natural gas and not be forced into costly electrification for the sake of Labor’s extreme ideology.

The infringement of the right to choose energy source in one’s own home whether for hot water services, cooking or heating is a matter which should apply equally to indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (10:03): I move:

That the bill be now read a second time.

Labor’s War on Gas

Over the last 12 years the Australian Labor Party and its fellow travellers have conducted a strong unrelenting war on gas in Victoria.

This has included effectively preventing exploration for gas with the last gas exploration permits issued in Victoria in 2013, the banning of gas connections on new estates and new homes, the introduction of legislation and regulations designed to ban gas replacement appliances in Victorian homes. That legislation, the Building Legislation Amendment and Other Matters Bill 2024, was introduced on 11 September 2024 and passed on 31 October 2024. The Governor signed this act into law on 12 November 2024.

The Andrews–Allan–Carroll government had initially intended to ban replacement cooktops, replacement heating systems and replacement hot water services from March 2027. Officially they retreated, saying they would not ban domestic gas cooktops or domestic heaters. However, when confronted with an amendment that prevented them regulating gas cooktops, including banning them, the Labor Party opposed that amendment.

There can be no doubt that if re-elected at the November state election Labor will refresh their attacks on gas and introduce bans on gas heaters and gas cooktops in addition to replacement gas hot water services, which they currently claim will be banned.

Labor also use the planning system through planning scheme amendment VC250 to continue the outlawing of the connection of gas to new estates and new homes.

The previous Minister for Energy and Resources constantly referred to ‘fossil gas’ and made other disparaging comments concerning gas in her ideological drive to forcibly electrify Victorian homes.

Provisions of the Bill

The objectives of the bill are to revoke an amendment to the Victoria Planning Provisions that prohibits new gas connections for new dwellings.

The bill also amends the Building Act 1993 to repeal regulation-making powers for prohibiting the connection of reticulated gas brought into force by the Building Legislation Amendment and Other Matters Bill 2024.

Clause 3 reverses the planning changes made in the planning scheme amendment VC250 that ‘prevents a permit being granted to connect to reticulated natural gas when constructing a new dwelling, apartment development or subdividing land for residential purposes’.

Clause 4 repeals the penalties and machinery which Labor used and intended to expand in its restriction of choice for Victorian households by banning replacement gas appliances.

Conclusion

The Liberals and the Nationals opposed Labor’s war on gas from the start, and if elected we will unwind it and commence onshore conventional gas exploration. We will also unwind Labor’s ban on replacement gas appliances and their ban on the connection of gas to new estates and new homes.

The Liberals and Nationals believe in the choice of individuals to choose the fuel used within their own home. Ben Carroll or any other Premier should not be empowered to enforce draconian bans. Victorians should be left to choose how to cook and heat their own home and the form of hot water production they choose for their houses.

I commend this bill to the house.

 John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) (10:06): I move:

That debate be adjourned for two weeks.

Motion agreed to and debate adjourned for two weeks.