Tuesday, 18 June 2024

Ministers statements: rental reform

Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:09): I am happy to update the house on how the Allan Labor government is providing real cost-of-living relief for renters, with new rental minimum standards announced last week by the Minister for Consumer Affairs and me. One in three Victorians are renters, and we know that many face high energy costs due to poorly insulated homes with old, inefficient energy appliances. Our new standards will make rental homes more energy efficient by ensuring end-of-life appliances are replaced with energy-efficient electric alternatives and that homes are insulated and draught proofed so heating and cooling are more effective.

The new insulation and weatherproofing standards will help slash household energy bills by up to $567 each and every year. An efficient heat pump hot-water system will save renters a further $220 every year, and with better 3-star cooling another $215 will be saved. That is savings of $1040 each and every year on energy bills, and these new standards will make sure that money goes back in the pockets of those renters who are doing it tough. There are benefits for rental providers as well. Improving the efficiency of the property will increase its value and will help keep renters staying longer in those properties.

We are also helping renters access cheap renewable energy with our solar PV rebates for rental properties, with more than 5000 rental properties installing solar thanks to our rebates. The members for Werribee, Point Cook and Tarneit will be thrilled that their communities have had the highest numbers of renters receiving the benefits of solar in this state. And in 2024–25 we are doubling the number of solar rebates for rental properties. The Allan Labor government are backing in Victorians ‍– not the big end of town, the big energy companies. We know that it is about fairness, and everyone deserves to live comfortably in their home.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, as a point of clarification, on your earlier ruling you started by saying that whether or not there was a link between the primary and the supplementary question did not relate to your ruling. I would seek your guidance as to how this chamber can operate in relation to relevance on the primary and supplementary wherein in that instance a ruling was given on the primary question that the question was in order and the supplementary clearly related to the primary question. Therefore it is very difficult for the chamber if one is ruled in and one is ruled out.

The SPEAKER: I have made my ruling, Manager of Opposition Business, and reiterate that you are welcome to come and speak to me in my office after question time for clarification.

John Pesutto: On the point of order, Speaker, in relation to my question, the Premier in her answer stated that every worker in this state deserves to be able to go to work and work in a safe workplace. In light of the Premier’s own wording, I then framed a supplementary question to ask her whether Mr Setka’s comments were appropriate, having regard to what the Premier herself had said. So I ask, by way of clarification: how can what the Premier said in the substantive answer not then found the question and support the question I posed in my supplementary?

The SPEAKER: I reiterate my answer in relation to this matter that you are welcome to come and speak to me about my ruling in my office after question time. There are other ways of raising matters of dissent in this house, including through motions, that are open to the opposition to follow through with.