Gas stove, heater ban: Greens councillor to push for NSW councils to outlaw gas items

A push to ban gas stoves and heaters in new homes across NSW as part of an initiative to reduce pollution has been criticised by a Sydney councillor who says such a move would hurt household budgets.

Randwick deputy mayor Rafaela Pandolfini is calling local councils to ban gas. (Photo Getty Images via AFP)

A push for an eastern suburbs council to advocate for a ban on gas stoves and heaters in every new home across NSW has been knocked back, with one councillor describing the move as “very inappropriate”.

Randwick deputy mayor Rafaela Pandolfini asked councillors to endorse a motion for the council to submit a motion to the Local Government NSW (LGNSW) 2023 Annual Conference calling for gas stoves, gas ovens and gas heaters in new developments, following in the footsteps of Waverley Council.

Ms Pandolfini, a Greens councillor, lobbied for the motion in light of the health implications caused by the pollution, said it was a move “looking into the future”. Randwick councillors ultimately voted down the motion at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Waverley Council said the move would improve air quality in homes and help the council reach net zero emissions.

An academic from UNSW, associate professor Donna Green, said in an online article that burning methane can lead to health problems, such as asthma.

Greens Randwick councillor Rafaela Pandolfini.

Liberal Randwick councillor Christie Hamilton. (AAP IMAGE/ Danny Aarons)

Ahead of the meeting, Liberal councillor Christie Hamilton told this publication she would argue against the “unusual” motion, highlighting how Randwick Council had not implemented any of the changes Ms Pandolfini wants the entire state to adopt.

“The fact that Ms Pandolfini is dismissive of the current living pressures being felt by all Australians, including Randwick residents, and promoting a more costly source of energy clearly shows her to be out of touch,” she said.

Ms Hamilton rejected Ms Pandolfini’s statement that electricity was “cheaper to run, meaning lower energy bills” in council’s agenda.

“In fact, it is roughly twice the cost to produce electricity than it is gas,” she said.

During Tuesday night’s debate, Ms Hamilton said the motion was “completely flawed”, the timing was “shocking” and it was “very inappropriate” given the current living pressures faced by many residents.

“We should do all we can to decrease living costs of our residents and a motion like this simply disregards Randwick ratepayers and renters, not to mention the suggested ban on gas in new commercial developments,” Ms Hamilton said before the meeting.

Ms Pandolfini’s motion describes gas as “dirty” and an expensive fossil fuel which accelerates climate change while driving many households and businesses into energy poverty and causing alarming impacts to human health.

When told about Ms Hamilton’s comments, Ms Pandolfini asked if they were “satire” and said the Liberal Party had “denied the existence of climate change for decades”.

She also referenced published CSIRO research which states gas-connected households are likely to pay higher bills.

The push comes following a recent announcement by the Victorian Government to ban every new home from connecting to gas from 2024.