The Allan Labor Government is keeping power prices lower than other states and the lights on while reducing greenhouse emissions and growing Victoria's economy.
Minister for Climate Action Lily D'Ambrosio today released Victoria's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report 2023, which shows the Victorian economy grew by over 57 per cent while emissions dropped by over 31 per cent between 2005 and 2023 - already within the range of our 2025 target, two years ahead of schedule.
The report showed Victorians emitted less greenhouse emissions per person than the national average - at an average of 12.3 tonnes per person annually - led by our record investment in renewable energy.
Victoria smashed our first emissions reduction target of 15-20 per cent below 2005 levels by 2020, achieving a reduction of over 30 per cent, and we are already within the range of our 2025 target two years early.
The electricity sector is the largest contributor to reducing emissions in Victoria, with their emissions dropping by 39 per cent since 2005. Last financial year, renewable energy generation contributed over 42 per cent of our electricity mix, putting us well on the way to this year's target of 40 per cent renewable generation.
Since last year, the Labor Government has unlocked more than $7.8 billion of investment across 22 projects approved through our streamlined renewable energy approvals process - that investment will deliver more cheap renewable energy for homes and business and create more than 3,000 new jobs.
When businesses know clearly where we're headed, they invest with confidence. Meanwhile, the Liberal National Coalition has divided over a decision to ditch net zero by 2050, and Brad Battin's Victorian Coalition is no better.
Brad Battin's first move as Liberal leader was to delete the Climate portfolio from his shadow ministry, and pledge to scrap the SEC. He also told parliament while voting against the Climate Change Bill 2016 that he 'fundamentally disagreed with climate change being a 'critical issue facing Victorians today.'
When the Liberals were last in government, they shredded the Climate Change Act, abolished emissions reduction targets that they claimed before to support before the election, banned new wind farms, cut funding to renewable energy programs, and tried to abolish the Victorian Energy Upgrades - and they will do it again.
The Victorian Coalition is divided on climate, Brad Battin might say they're different from the federal Coalition, but two months ago Moira Deeming and Bev McArthur voted to scrap net zero, and the Leader of the Victorian Nationals put out a media release condemning 'renewables rubbish' saying there's 'not enough sun for solar'.
Brad Battin's Liberals and Nationals will drive renewable energy investment out of our state, putting thousands of jobs at risk and leaving households and businesses without a secure, affordable energy supply.
As stated by Minister for Climate Action Lily D'Ambrosio
"Victorians are leading the nation in the transition to a net zero economy, with our nation-leading investment in renewable energy keeping energy bills and emissions lower than other states."
"You can't trust Brad Battin's Liberals - while we're focused on lowering energy prices for Victorians, they're stuck fighting each other over net zero."
