Victorian households and small businesses are paying the price for Daniel Andrews’ ideological flipping and flopping on energy bills.
For years, Daniel Andrews put ideology before common-sense by locking up conventional onshore gas, and withholding this critical supply from Victorian households and businesses.
As recently as July this year, Mr Andrews actually released a policy to phase out the use of gas – the “Gas Substitution Roadmap” with Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio saying “it’s time to put gas on the back-burner”.
Now, Mr Andrews’ desperate about face on gas has been exposed with former Australian Consumer and Competition Commission Chair, Mr Rod Sims, stating “So there is no doubt that ban has led to less gas being available in Victoria. That is true.”
Mr Andrews has also today been criticised by South Australian Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis for his anti-gas policies.
Worse still, Daniel Andrews’ latest power policy admits energy prices will rise by 40 per cent from 2025. A plan that means even higher power bills is no plan at all.
In contrast, the Liberals and Nationals have real solutions to keep power prices down whilst transitioning to a net-zero future, including by unlocking Victoria’s conventional onshore gas reserves and legislating a domestic gas reservation policy within six months.
Shadow Minister for Energy and Renewables, David Southwick, said only a vote for the Liberals and Nationals would ease energy prices for all Victorians.
“Years of promises under Labor have only lead to higher bills and Andrews’ own modelling points to more price pain in the future,” Mr Southwick said.
“The Liberals and Nationals have real solutions to ease energy prices, including solar and battery rebates, unlocking natural gas and keeping it for domestic use, and legislating a 50 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030.”
“On November 26, Victorians have a clear choice. A decade of higher power prices under Labor, or real solutions to cut bills and emission with the Liberals and Nationals.”
David Southwick MP
Shadow Minister for Energy and Renewables