Tuesday, 16 May 2023

Ministers statements: energy policy

Daniel ANDREWS (Mulgrave – Premier) (14:38): I am delighted to rise to add to the comments made by the Minister for Climate Action earlier on. Of course today marks the formalisation of our emissions reduction targets from 75 to 80 per cent. We have made those official. They are now not merely commitments but they are, through our nation-leading climate change legislation, on the books for everyone to see. It is about turning climate change as a challenge into an opportunity for the future by bringing back the SEC – a fundamental recognition that there is a better way than privatising our essential services.

John Pesutto interjected.

Daniel ANDREWS: Honestly! He is back on this again.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition! Premier, through the Chair.

A member: Nuclear fission.

Daniel ANDREWS: Indeed. Radioactive over here. No-one is surprised you support nuclear, John. You are, after all, toxic, absolutely toxic – toxic, radioactive.

But I digress, Speaker. There is a billion dollars worth of investment, as we indicated prior to the election, to bring back the SEC and 59,000 jobs. We are investing not just in reducing emissions as a challenge – of course it is a global challenge – but we are investing and turning it into an opportunity, whether that be through 6.3 gigawatts of storage by 2035, 100 neighbourhood batteries –

Jacinta Allan: 100.

Daniel ANDREWS: Yes, 100. Not 19, not 11 – 100 neighbourhood batteries.

John Pesutto interjected.

Daniel ANDREWS: They are a lot more solid than your numbers, mate, let me assure you of that. Keep the interjections coming; you are doing so well, as all your colleagues look at their feet. I would not be bragging or boasting or shouting about the fact that one in three cannot stand you.

Ryan Smith: On a point of order, Speaker, I just want to raise the issue of non-adherence to the sessional orders in relation to constituency questions. I asked a question of the Minister for Education on 7 March. It was due on 6 April. It is question 58. It has not been answered yet. I would appreciate your assistance in having that answer brought to me.

The SPEAKER: It will be followed up.