Victoria takes necessary, bold action to end new gas connections

Environment Victoria has welcomed the announcement from Minister for Energy, Resources and Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio and Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny that new gas connections will end in Victorian homes and government buildings from 1 January 2024.

In response to the news, Environment Victoria CEO Jono La Nauze said today:

“We congratulate the Andrews government for taking this vital step that will help Victoria achieve its climate targets and kick our expensive gas addiction.

“Victoria is the largest user of gas in homes so it is particularly significant that we will be the first state to end new connections. The announcement builds on the Andrews government’s track record of nation-leading steps that embrace and advance the energy transition.

“Gas is an expensive and polluting fossil fuel. The long term trend is that gas prices will keep rising whilst renewable electricity gets cheaper. It simply makes no sense to keep connecting new homes to the energy source of the past.

“This announcement shows that the polluting gas industry has no future and is no longer welcome in Victoria.

“The need to get off polluting methane gas couldn’t be clearer. The world is experiencing the hottest July on record, with blistering heat waves and fires in Europe and North America whilst parts of Asia are deluged in rain.

“For too long giant gas corporations like Exxon have made record profits whilst denying the need to change. Their time has come – today’s announcement points to an all-electric future. It’s further evidence that there is no future in creating new carbon bombs like what is currently proposed in the Beetaloo Basin.

“As important as today’s announcement is, much more work remains to be done. We look forward to the Andrews government updating its Gas Substitution Roadmap later this year, which must include a clear plan for helping the two million Victorian homes already connected to gas to be retrofitted with efficient electric appliances.

“With today’s announcement, Victoria continues to demonstrate its national climate leadership by stepping up and making a tangible difference in tackling what is the most urgent global problem.”