Thursday, 28 November 2024

Ministers statements: State Electricity Commission

Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:19): It is Ausmusic week, and I am absolutely thunderstruck to update the house about how in 2024 we have brought back the SEC, and it is here for good. There were some very dirty deeds done back in the 1990s, done dirt cheap too, which shamefully some are still celebrating today.

Last week I absolutely had the proud honour to join with the Premier in Horsham to start construction on the first 100 per cent government-owned electricity generator since the SEC was sold off in the 1990s, and even the member for Lowan was trying to get in on the action.

So what do the locals say about this? The Buloke Times on Tuesday 26 November said:

[QUOTE AWAITING VERIFICATION]

Power and profit back to the people. SEC renewable park for Horsham. The State Electricity Commission (SEC) is back for good, and its second investment is locked in.

And we had the Horsham Weekly Advertiser saying ‘SEC to soak up the sun’, and that is exactly what we are doing.

Let us look at what we have already done in bringing back the SEC. This year the SEC Melbourne renewable energy hub is more than halfway through construction at the Sydenham site – one of the biggest batteries in the world – and has already created 650 jobs in Victoria. What is more, right now the SEC is out there helping families to slash their energy bills, with 10,000 households already using the trusted electric home planner. And we passed legislation earlier this year that has enshrined the SEC in the Victorian constitution, protecting it from sell-offs into the future. The SEC is powering Victoria for Victorians.

Those opposite are tearing themselves apart on a highway to hell whilst the Allan Labor government runs to paradise for more renewable energy and cheaper bills.