MP Kylea Tink calls for new federal ‘office of electrification’ to encourage Australians to ditch gas

North Sydney MP Kylea Tink is calling for the federal government to establish a new “office of electrification” in a push to encourage Australians to ditch the use of gas in private homes.

North Sydney MP Kylea Tink is calling for the federal government to establish a new “office of electrification” in a push to encourage Australians to ditch the use of gas in private homes.

A new federal authority would be set-up to accelerate the uptake of residential electrification as part of a climate conscious proposal put forward by the independent MP.

Ms Tink said an overarching federal government body could work with state and local governments, gas network operators and landlords to encourage more households to use alternatives to gas.

“There needs to be national co-ordination to transition the marketplace because it’s absolutely imperative we get on the same page,” she said.

“Victoria for instance has introduced mandates for no new gas connections in new homes which is a positive move, but we’ve seen a real resistance to that in NSW.

Kylea Tink, pictured inside her office at Parliament House in Canberra.

“I think NSW should absolutely follow that lead.

“To me the biggest thing that’s missing is an entity whose primary job is to ensure federal incentives are co-ordinated with state and local government incentives.”

Ms Tink said a new agency could co-ordinate gas policy between Australian states.

Ms Tink’s proposal come as many Sydney councils have taken recent steps for gas to be phased out of new homes.

NSW Premier Chris Minns, however, has ruled out mandating the changes statewide, saying the NSW already has enough energy supply challenges.

A report by the Property Council and Green Building Council shows that for a target of 85 per cent of homes to transition from gas by 2040, a staggering 5000 homes would need to be retrofitted each week.

Other proposals put forward by Ms Tink to accelerate the uptake of residential electrification include incorporating energy sustainability into home property valuations, and new tax incentives for landlords to replace gas appliances with energy efficient alternatives.

Ms Tink is also calling for governments to consider financing arrangements for lower-income homeowners to transition from gas, as well as mandatory disclosures of clean energy systems in rental properties.

She said the government incentives could support households including renters.

“What we can’t countenance as a society is for the transition away from gas to only be a policy for those who can afford it,” she said.

“The key sting in the tail is to make sure the most vulnerable are not left behind.”

A Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water spokesman declined to say whether the government would support a new ‘office of electrification’.

“The government is finalising the National Energy Performance Strategy which will be a framework to support greater access to energy upgrades, including energy efficiency and electrification,” the spokesman said.

“The government also meets with the cross bench regularly to discuss energy efficiency, and will continue to work across the parliament to make every watt count.”

The spokesman said the federal government has no plans to ban new gas connections to people’s homes.

“States and territories can consider the future of gas connections in their jurisdictions,” he said.