The Coalition would also fund a $ 1 billion strategy to support clean hydrogen, if elected. The package would not explicitly rule out hydrogen produced from coal, but funding for research and development would focus on producing hydrogen through renewable energy.
Sunday’s announcement will include a commitment to upgrade transmission infrastructure in west Victoria, a working group to fix the state’s power grid and a new commitment to a guarantee of local gas supply.
A supply guarantee would ensure that residents were offered gas on land extracted from Victoria first, lowering gas bills. The Andrews government has also considered the measure to deal with the approaching supply crisis.
The announcement comes after the opposition promised discounts for both solar panels and home batteries, up to $ 4,400 for homeowners and $ 8,800 for rentals, extending a government package from Andrews, a welcome measure by Environment Victoria.
The Liberal Party was exterminated in Victoria in the May federal election, driven in part by the so-called Green Green independents who campaigned on climate and integrity. State seats in the interior of Melbourne, including the Newbury electorate of Brighton, could be targeted by candidates running on a similar platform.
The Andrews government argues that the opposition has a long history of blocking climate action and rejecting renewables. In May this year, Victorian liberals and nationals argued that renewables were “not necessarily” less harmful to the environment in all cases.
Steve Dimopoulos speaks to the media on Saturday. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui
Tourism Minister Steve Dimopoulos said on Saturday that there was no way Victorians could take the Coalition on Climate Change seriously.
“I have to say that there is no way for the Victorian community to believe that Victoria’s liberal opposition takes climate change and clean energy seriously in any way. The last eight years have been spent fighting all measures.” said Dimopoulos.