2025-06-24
Today the Victorian Government will announce reforms to reduce Victoria’s reliance on fossil gas, and help renters live in more comfortable, efficient homes. These reforms were only secured due to negotiations with the Greens, due to their balance of power position in Victoria’s Upper House.
The Victorian Greens secured over $40 million of climate programs, announced today, including:
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New regulations that will require all rental homes, including Victoria’s public housing stock, to meet minimum energy efficiency standards with the Greens securing millions to implement the plan.
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Mandatory end-of-life replacement for gas hot water appliances. The Greens secured $10 million for industry to transition to manufacturing efficient electrical appliances.
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$10 million for food and beverage manufacturers and dairy farms to transition away from gas – creating a step-change in getting industry and manufacturers off gas.
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$5 million for on-farm electrification projects, to help farmers reduce their energy bills and emissions through solar panels and electric hot water.
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$5 million to expand the Upskilling for Plumbers and Upskilling for Electricians programs to support tradies to be part of the transition away from gas.
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$2 million to assist community groups to promote and support residents to electrify their homes.
These climate wins show the power of Greens in Parliaments, working to get good outcomes on climate change and housing.
The Greens are disappointed that Labor has chosen not to include gas heaters – the biggest gas guzzlers of all – in their list of appliances that must be replaced with efficient electric appliances at the end of their life. This is the Labor Premier Jacinta Allan scaling back ambition on climate action, and is really disappointing to see.
Labor's gas security statement, also released today, shows that there will be no gas shortage in Victoria – and therefore Victoria does not need to expand gas drilling in our oceans. The Greens call on Labor to stop their ‘fast tracking’ of new fossil fuel drilling.
Quotes attributable to the Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:
“The Greens, through our budget negotiations, have secured $40 million to support people to transition away from gas. This shows the power of Greens in our Parliaments – we get good outcomes for climate action and to help renters to reduce their bills.
"We’re disappointed that Labor backed down on their plans to remove dangerous, polluting gas heaters from Victoria – this will lock people into higher bills and more pollution.
Labor must stop fast-tracking new gas drilling in Victoria’s oceans, because their own figures today show there will be no gas shortage in Victoria, and more gas drilling is simply not needed."