Victoria, which has the highest use of residential gas in Australia, will ban gas connections to all new homes from next year, in a move critics said would fail to reduce emissions in the short term because it would increase the state’s reliance on coal-fired power.

From January 1, planning permits for new homes and residential subdivisions will only allow connections to all-electric networks, a decision criticised by gas producers and pipeline owners, state Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced on Friday.