Victoria’s targets. The 2045 net-zero commitment and the 2035 interim target are credible, science-aligned, and increasingly embedded in investment decisions. Weakening them would impose real economic costs by creating regulatory uncertainty.

Annual accounting with accountability The government should publish audited sector-by-sector progress against pledges each year, with a ministerial statement to Parliament.

Set the 2040 target promptly. Victoria’s 2040 target is required to be set by 2028. An incoming government should move this forward — the longer it’s left open, the more it functions as a de facto weakening of the trajectory.

Align land-use planning with climate targets The Planning and Environment Act has been amended to require consideration of climate change when making planning decisions, especially when considering data centres and waste to energy projects.

Difficult sectors Set targets for aviation, mining, maritime activities and agriculture.

Set a date for the closure of the gas distribution network Provide certainty surrounding the closure of the gas networks, ban any new connections in the commercial and industrial sector, and set interim targets and transition plans for closing down poorly utilised sectors of the gas network.

Better coordination for electrification Improve the coordination of different bodies responsible for sections of the electrification process.

Delaying the clean energy transition increases the profits of coal and gas companies, and implicates those parties and representatives who have been significant fossil donation recipients.

Doubt was the major tactic employed by Exxon and other fossil majors, despite them knowing full well about how their product would place ecosystems, communities and families at risk.

We support:

• The gas transition and the actions set out in the initial Gas Substitution Roadmap and its annual updates
• The Victorian Energy Upgrades Program and VicSolar
• Large Energy User Electrification Support Program.

• The Australia Institute: “When governments subsidise fossil fuels—coal, gas, diesel, petrol—they not only waste public money, they also make climate change worse.” In FY23/24 Australia subsidies fossil fuels $14.5bn. “This is equal to $27,581 for every minute of every day of the year, more than is spent on the army or the air force.”
• The diesel fuel rebate is making a significant contribution to coal expansion, for instance the lifetime cost of the rebate at $1.3bn has been calculated to be greater than the whole cost of construction of Whitehaven’s coal mine expansion.

Government support for fossil fuels is a backwards step
If the aim is to lower energy bills why not support household and businesses directly with rooftop solar and onsite batteries?

• • NSW Eraring 2GW 2 year extension to cost $450 million, Queensland will extend coal to another 11 years to 2046 including Callide (1.5GW), Gladstone (1.68GW) and Tarong (1.4GW)
  • LNP policy is stated to include nuclear – Hinkley C (3GW) went from $A35billion to $A90 billion
  • For around the same cost as keeping our 20GW of coal plants open for another ten years or for less than the cost of one large scale nuc every household could add panels, electric appliances and one EV – $4000/yr savings ($40-50bn public loan/subsidy scheme returning $1,170 billion in savings) Electrify Australia.

SolarVic: rebates of up to $2,800 per household for eligible apartments, units and townhouses under the control of an Owners Corporation and sharing a common property rooftop – up to $140,000 per property are available until Tuesday 30 June 2027.

RenewEconomy: Solar for Apartments is a $16 million joint state and federal government program, targeting 5,000 apartment owners.

Check out Solar Victoria’s comprehensive guide to planning your solar system, including sizing, usage patterns and getting expert trusted installers.

Rachel Williamson in Renew Economy outlines the Smart Energy Council’s recent report’s rebuttal of the waste to energy sector’s claims to be low emissions, and a viable part of the clean economy.

“Waste-to-energy projects risk sending out more emissions than even some of Australia’s dirtiest coal generators”

“At least 15 waste-to-energy projects are in development across Australia, and could incinerate up to 4 million tonnes of what’s known as municipal solid waste.”

• Gas power stations produce emit between 500g and 650g of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour (CO2-e/kWh).
• Waste-to-energy emissions are even higher, ranging between 700g to 1,700g CO2-e/kWh, the SEC report says, citing a US study in Plos Climate and work in Europe.
• That upper limit is higher than the Clean Energy Regulator’s latest readings for the dirtiest coal power stations in Australia, Yallourn which delivered 1350g CO2-e/kWh and Loy Yang B with 1015g CO2-e/kWh.

Wind and solar installations pay back the life-cycle energy requirements (energy used in manufacture, service and disposal) very rapidly.

Ember: “Wind and solar are among the least carbon-intensive electricity generation technologies”

Data from Vestas puts this energy payback period at 5-8 months for wind, 1-2 years for solar energy.

The Conversation: “Offshore wind projects can provide a win-win-win for Australia: creating jobs for displaced fossil fuel workers, replacing energy supplies lost when coal plants close, and helping Australia become a renewable energy superpower.”