It gives me great pleasure to rise in support of the government business program today. Once again we have got an incredibly important piece of legislation coming up for debate, which speaks to the real and rapid transition our state is making to deliver a clean energy future. Today that is the Energy Legislation Amendment Bill 2023, an omnibus bill that amends the National Electricity (Victoria) Act 2005 and the National Gas (Victoria) Act 2008 to deliver better outcomes for Victorian energy consumers.
The Minister for Climate Action has been absolutely unrelenting in her ambition to drive forward the reforms that are needed as part of Victoria’s energy transition, and we have seen that week after week with energy legislation coming through the Parliament modernising aspect after aspect of our energy sector to give effect to Labor’s fundamental goal of a safe, affordable, reliable and clean supply of energy for Victorians. This bill is yet another example of that – another example of us getting on with the job of legislating the necessary changes to Victorian laws as we work towards our targets to run the state on 95 per cent renewables by 2035 and hit net zero emissions by 2045. Our electricity system is undergoing a fundamental technological transformation. Unreliable, dirty coal-fired generators are exiting the market and this year –
The SPEAKER: Order! I remind the member for Northcote that it is not appropriate to pre-empt debate on the bill.
Kat THEOPHANOUS: Sure. Thank you. This year rooftop solar has generated nearly five times the power generated by gas in Victoria – we are well on our way. But we also need our laws and our regulations to keep pace with that, and that is why this legislation – this government business program – is so very important. The Energy Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 introduces some vital decision-making criteria and consultation safeguards to be used in the event that the Victorian minister needs to trigger the retailer reliability obligation framework in response to an emerging risk of significant electricity disruption. The RRO puts in place responsibilities on retailers and large customers to secure contracts with electricity producers during periods of forecast lack of supply. So it is literally a bill about keeping the lights on – what could be more important than that? Not only that, but it is about accountability too. It enables regulations to be made in relation to Victoria’s wholesale gas market.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Order! I again remind the member for Northcote that she is going into the weeds of the bill, which is not appropriate, and to come back to debating the government business program.
Kat THEOPHANOUS: I think every Victorian would be interested in ensuring that our laws reflect the environment that we are now entering in terms of our action on climate change, and that requires changes to our legislation in the form of bills in this house. That is why we have put this on the government business program today.
There are of course other matters to be debated this week. If we have got time, the budget take-note motion is there, and that does allow members to elucidate the impact of strong Labor budgets and what they have done to deliver for our communities, whether that is in health care, education, transport, jobs or the creation of landmark decisions like bringing back the SEC. I am sure there is going to be, as well, some lively discourse in the government business program debate on the ins and outs of our constitutional monarchy as we consider the Statute Law Amendment (References to the Sovereign) Bill 2023. I am sure there will be contributions from both sides that we will all listen to. We will all gain a better understanding of that bill, why it has been brought forward and what people are thinking about it as we look to the future and how we redefine ourselves going forward.
I think this is a fantastic business program. I think there are many and varied opportunities for members to contribute thoughtfully and respectfully on issues that matter to Victorians, whether that is about our energy sector and our transition to renewables and having better consumer protections, whether it is about the vital investments we are making in the budget, whether it is about level crossing removals or whether it is just about making sure our statute books are accurate. I support the government business program.
