Energy policy
Ellen SANDELL (Melbourne) (14:28): My question is to the minister for energy and climate action. Two weeks ago the state Labor government signed off on a permit for Beach Energy to drill for and extract gas under the ocean right near the Twelve Apostles. This permit says Beach Energy can start extracting gas in just 12 days time, just a few kilometres from the Twelve Apostles. Labor approved this permit against the wishes of First Nations sea country custodians and the local community. Scientists tell us that to have any chance of avoiding the worst impacts of climate change every drop of fossil fuels must stay in the ground. Why is Labor approving more fossil gas drilling when we are in a climate emergency?
Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:30): I thank the member for the question. I think scientists would also agree that you actually need to have a concrete plan to reduce emissions and absolutely use the evidence. The facts are very clear. In this state we are leading the country in terms of decarbonising our economy, reducing our emissions and doing it in a way that takes communities with us. We are absolutely committed to achieving every single target that we have set in terms of emissions reductions, notwithstanding any particular part of the equation that you want to pick on or focus on to say, ‘If you don’t do X over here, it means that you’re not serious about anything.’ I would also contend that scientists would look at the people who are actually delivering the outcomes and delivering the evidence-based programs to reduce our emissions and would report on the fact that the Victorian government is absolutely leading not just in Victoria but the rest of the country when it comes to real action, not words, to reduce our emissions. We have made a clear commitment that we are reducing our emissions –
Sam Hibbins: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question was about the state government’s approval of a specific gas project. The minister is not being relevant and has not in her answer even mentioned the word ‘gas’, so I would ask you to bring the minister back to answering the actual question, which was about a specific gas project.
The SPEAKER: The minister was being relevant to the question, which had a long preamble.
Lily D’AMBROSIO: While some may have come very late to the piece about the need to decarbonise our gas system, we have been talking about it and doing something about it for a number of years now. Victoria is leading the country in terms of our gas substitution road map, which articulates annually real actions and real programs to deliver on our commitment to phasing out our reliance on fossil gas in this state. You cannot do it without a plan. If you do not have a plan, all you have got is a disaster. Perhaps the word ‘disaster’ in some people’s language could be the equivalent of the Greens party or indeed could be the equivalent of the opposition in terms of no plans other than a lot of talk and no action. The fact is this: if you want to be reckless about this, you will have no plan. You will ignore the science, like some opposite will do, or others indeed would have you turn off heating in the winter and cooling in the summer because there is no plan to work on the substitutes that will keep people warm in the winter and keep people cool in the summer and actually reduce our emissions as we do it. That is called a plan.
We are not into disasters on this side of the house. Those opposite might be in for disasters. Let the record show who indeed is actually delivering real action on climate, because it is certainly no-one on the other side, whether they are on the crossbench or those directly opposite here. I would contend that we will still be here in a number of years time continuing to deliver on real action while those opposite simply talk about it.
Ellen SANDELL (Melbourne) (14:33): The minister says that she is not into disaster, but Labor’s plan to approve more gas drilling is a climate disaster. The Twelve Apostles project is just one of dozens of coal and gas projects on the cards across Victoria. Today we have a delegation in the chamber from just one of the many Pacific island nations who are on the front lines of climate impacts right now, contributed to by what we do in terms of our burning of fossil fuels. Minister, does your government accept that gas is a fossil fuel that is causing climate change?
Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:34): I thank the member for the supplementary question, but I do not think she listened to my answer to the substantive question, which actually talked about fossil gas. I am very clear about this. There is nothing shameful here that you are trying to catch us out on, can I warn you really clearly. And for those who are in any doubt, you actually need to do something about this rather than talk about it. Do something about it, when in fact we could have –
Jacinta Allan: Who blocked the CPRS?
Lily D’AMBROSIO: Thank you, Premier. In fact we have lost a good 15 years on national action because some would like to be purer than others. We have lost 15 years of real climate action because of a failure of the Greens political party to actually pull their finger out. Shame on you. Do not talk to me about Pacific Islander communities. Do not talk to me about that, because the fact is this government will deliver on all of our commitments – (Time expired)