The Victorian Greens have slammed the Carroll Labor Government for approving yet another new fossil fuel project, as Victoria braces for a scorching summer and a potentially devastating bushfire season amid a powerful El Niño.
With the Bureau of Meteorology warning of unusually hot temperatures across Victoria this summer, and a strong El Niño expected to intensify, the Greens say Labor is continuing to fuel the climate crisis by approving new gas drilling.
The approval of a production licence for the $1 billion Golden Beach Gas Project off Gippsland's Ninety Mile Beach is the latest in a string of fossil fuel projects given the green light by Labor.
The Greens say Victorians are already paying the price for the major parties' failure to act on climate change, through worsening fires, floods and droughts, rising insurance costs and growing threats to food and water supplies.
The Greens have renewed their calls to ban new offshore gas drilling in Victoria and replace coal and gas with cheaper, publicly owned renewable energy.
As stated by the Victorian Deputy Greens Leader, Sarah Mansfield:
"While Victorians are preparing for another scorching summer, with a powerful El Niño threatening more extreme heat and bushfires - Labor's response is to approve yet another fossil fuel project and pause the renewables rollout. It's effectively climate denial.
"Labor speaks out both sides of their mouth when it comes to climate, but when you look at their actions you see the real story. Approving new fossil fuel projects, pausing the renewables roll-out under pressure from Labor and One Nation and rolling out the red carpet for power-hungry data centres that risk keeping Victoria hooked on coal and gas."
