As an independent charity, we believe the public deserves to know where their elected representatives stand on issues related to our environment.
Right now, key clean energy and climate change policies do not have bipartisan support in Victoria.
The following table outlines the policy positions and voting track records of the Victorian Labor Party and the Victorian Liberal/National Coalition in this term of government. A separate box covers the Greens.
Click the plus icon to see a drop-down table for each topic.
LABOR
- Passed into law a new Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) of 40% by 2025, up from 12% in 2016 ????
- Increased feed-in tariffs for rooftop solar ????
COALITION
- Voted against VRET and have promised to repeal it if they are elected ????
- Voted against the solar feed-in-tariffs increases ????
- Misinformation campaign spreading fear about reliability of renewable energy ????
THE GREENS
- Consistently supported the VRET, including it in their 2014 election platform and consistently pushing renewable energy up the agenda in Parliament ????
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LABOR
- Supported the Latrobe Valley community through Hazelwood’s closure with $270 million for diversifying the local economy ????
- Increased coal royalties and mine rehabilitation bonds to ensure the community and environment is protected when mines close ????
COALITION
- Called for intervention to keep Hazelwood open ????
- Vowed to keep polluting coal power stations open. Nationals are pushing for a new coal power station ????
- Opposed increased coal royalties and have promised to reverse them ????
THE GREENS
- Have spoken consistently and forcefully for the need to transition away from coal and towards renewable energy ????
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LABOR
- Increased target for the Victorian Energy Upgrade Program (VEUP) and established new energy efficiency measures. ????
- Restored funding to cut bills and reduce emissions from schools, hospitals and offices ????
- Launched the Green Bond, raising $300 million for investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy, public transport and clean water ????
COALITION
- In previous terms of Government, rolled back energy efficiency – moving to scrap VEUP and defunding the Greener Government Buildings Program ????
- Dismissed the Green Bond as an attempt to increase debt ????
- Despite their stated concerns about energy bills, have not promoted energy efficiency as a solution ????
THE GREENS
- Campaigned to put in place energy efficiency standards for rental properties ????
- Set a target to reduce Victorian energy demand by 20% by 2020, with appropriate sectoral targets across the economy ????
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LABOR
- Strengthened the Victorian Climate Change Act aiming for net zero emissions by 2050. Set targets to reduce the state’s greenhouse pollution by 15 to 20% by 2020 ????
- Banned fracking and unconventional gas extraction, imposed a moratorium on new onshore gas projects ????
COALITION
- Voted against the Climate Change Act and has promised to repeal key elements if elected ????
- Advocated for an acceleration of onshore gas extraction ????
THE GREENS
- Supported the Climate Change Act and pushed to strengthen the Act by placing stronger requirements to consider climate change in all decision-making and establishing the right for communities to take action against governments failing to meet the Climate Change Act ????
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LABOR
- Reviewed the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act, but is yet to propose new laws providing sufficient protection for nature ❔
- Developed a new Biodiversity Strategy leading to over $80 million investment in nature conservation. ????
COALITION
- Unclear position on Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act at this stage ❔
- Oppose many of the EPA reforms and would likely reverse them ????
THE GREENS
- Have consistently championed the need for a strong Act to protect Victoria’s flora and fauna, including supporting Environment Victoria’s calls for strengthened capacity to enforce any violations of the Act ????
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LABOR
- Explored, but so far failed, to create the Great Forest National Park to protect critical native forests ????
- Failed to significantly expand Victoria’s parks ????
- Purchased the Heyfield Mill in Gippsland, with no transition plan for the mill or protection plan for the surrounding forests ????
COALITION
- Voted in Parliament to oppose the creation of the Great Forest National Park ????
THE GREENS
- Consistently championed the Great Forest National Park, introducing a bill to establish the park in November 2017 ????
LABOR
- Blocking progress to restoring rivers with the Murray Darling Basin Plan ????
- Provided $30 million for fencing and restoration. So far it has protected over 1500 km of riparian land ????
COALITION
- Actively prioritising irrigator interests and showing no interest in securing water flows that would safeguard the health of our rivers ????
THE GREENS
- Have been largely silent in Parliament on the Murray Darling Basin plan ❔
This table was last updated April 2018.
Environment Victoria will release an analysis of promises made during the election campaign and a scorecard comparing the parties closer to polling day.