The Victorian Greens have welcomed today’s announcement from the Victorian Labor Government that gas connections will be banned in new homes across the state from 2024.
It follows years of campaigning from the Greens and environmental advocates, and will help accelerate Victoria’s shift away from polluting fossil fuels.
However, the Greens say reforms like this will continue to be undermined while the Government continues to back more coal and gas projects.
For instance, the Government is currently backing new gas drilling near the 12 Apostles, and looks set to back a new coal-to-hydrogen project that would pump out emissions equivalent to putting 735,000 new petrol cars on the road.
They also have a bill before Parliament that will make it easier for mining companies to open new mines, with limited transparency and community consultation.
Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell, said strong climate action meant no more coal and gas.
And that while banning new gas connections was an important start, the Government needed to stop supporting new coal and gas projects if they were serious about reducing the state’s emissions.
Earlier this week the Greens also renewed their call on the Government to reverse the delay to its 7-star homes plan.
As stated by Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell MP:
“Victorians use more gas in their homes than in any other state, so banning new connections is an important reform the Greens have been calling for for years.
“But it is strange that Labor acknowledges gas is an expensive, polluting fossil fuel on the one hand, while on the other hand is changing the law to make it easier to open new mines and is approving new gas drilling across the state, including near the 12 Apostles.”
