Wednesday, 23 September 2026

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:34): Today I would like to update the house on the latest SEC project, the Baranduda electrical energy reserve, one of the largest batteries in the country. Once completed, it will power over 200,000 homes during peak times. This project is nation leading – one of the first superannuation fund investments in a renewable project – all enabled by the SEC’s involvement.

The SEC is unlocking private market investment. This project involves Birdwood and Aware Super and will create around 150 jobs for the local Wodonga community, part of the 68,000 jobs that the energy transition is creating across our state. The project also includes a $3 million fund that will contribute yearly to the local community over the lifetime of the battery. It will of course collect and store cheap, abundant renewable electricity during the day and push it back into the grid during the evening peak, putting downward pressure on electricity prices. The SEC has now delivered more than 1 gigawatt of renewable energy storage for Victorians. That is over 40 per cent of our statewide target of 2.6 gigawatts by 2030.

This government’s energy plan is working. Our policies over the last 12 years have driven investment in generation and storage, and it is why we have the lowest power prices in the nation. We cannot afford not to build projects like these. We cannot afford not to build the new transition to connect them to the grid. The Liberal–One Nation coalition will stop energy transition, scrap the SEC and rip $18 billion in wages from the regional energy workers. They will leave Victorians with skyrocketing bills and unreliable power. It is only Labor who will keep the lights on and the bills down for Victorians.

David Davis: On a point of order, President, it is true that in ministers statements ministers are allowed to attack the opposition, but they are not allowed to be untruthful and lie.

Sonja Terpstra: On a point of order, President, Mr Davis should withdraw that comment. It is unparliamentary.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Davis, it was not a point of order. Minister, do you want to –

Jaclyn Symes: No, I’m immune to him.

The PRESIDENT: I uphold the point of order that you should not say someone has lied, but it should be the person that has taken offence. The minister has said she is immune to you.