Anti-gas warrior Lily D’Ambrosio is next in line for a one-way ticket from ideology to common sense

First came Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes, then Tim Pallas — now anti-gas warrior Lily D’Ambrosio is the latest to face the “gentle steer” of common sense leader Jacinta Allan.

Pack your bags Lily, you’re about to go on a journey.

Energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio that is, who’s next in line for a one-way ticket from ideology to common sense.

At least that’s the expectation from some deep within the Allan government, who say D’Ambrosio is being lined up for one of Jacinta’s journeys.

It’s the new and improved version of what earned Daniel Andrews his dictator moniker. Where ministers more or less did as Andrews said, or risked the consequences, Allan is gently steering her team in the direction she wants them to go.

Same end result, very different methods.

Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio is about to take a Jacinta Allan journey of “common sense”. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes was among the first to take a trip, as the far less socially progressive Allan steered her away from raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14.

In the midst of a youth crime crisis, Allan knew voters wanted a more common sense approach.

Next was Tim Pallas, who demanded hospitals suck up budget cuts that would have totalled well over $1bn. He was also fiercely advocating for the amalgamation of the state’s health services from more than 70 to just a handful. Again, amid dire warnings from health bosses that such moves would decimate the health sector, Allan steered Pallas toward the more common sense approach.

Instead of cuts and amalgamations, Pallas must now find an additional $1.5bn to prop up health services — and there will be no amalgamations.

One senior Labor figure summed Allan’s approach to such policies rather succinctly: “if it doesn’t win votes it can get f***ed, and if it loses votes it can certainly get f***ed”.

It’s simple maths.

The premier on Monday recommitted to the state’s renewable energy transition, but like with justice and health, she’s said to be far less ideological about it.

What do voters expect of their government, are those expectations being met, and are there votes to be won or lost? Key questions for a third term government with their eye on becoming the longest Labor government in Victorian history.

For Allan there’s an extra incentive: becoming the first woman elected by voters as the state’s premier.

Premier Jacinta Allan is putting her own “gentle” touch on Dictator Dan’s legacy. Picture: David Geraghty

Enter D’Ambrosio: Victoria’s anti-gas warrior who is on a renewable crusade that has put her at odds with energy ministers nationwide. She has banned gas appliances in new homes and businesses, and set remarkable new offshore wind energy targets of at least 2 gigawatts by 2032.

She has also increased the state’s renewable energy target from 50 per cent renewable electrification to 95 per cent by 2035.

Never mind the fact experts in the field say it’s not possible.

The Australian Energy Market Operator has warned Victoria is already failing to keep up with the closure of traditional coal-fired power stations. D’Ambrosio’s own Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action has warned that electrification simply could not occur quickly enough to deal with forecast shortages.

But D’Ambrosio is a woman on a mission.

Last week she released the state’s future energy plan, a 47-page document which boasts it would “help safeguard Victoria’s future and reach ambitious targets while minimising electricity prices.”

It focuses on building energy storage and bringing back the State Electricity Commission (SEC) to enable a renewables big build. And it claims renewables are now producing more electricity per annum than any of the three remaining coal-fired generators.

Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes was steered away from raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14. Picture: Ian Currie

Yet the plan has been criticised as “short of the tangible measures required” by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry which warns the transition to net zero will require meticulous planning and significant cost.

In the meantime, power prices are soaring as Victorians continue to battle cost of living pressures, with wholesale electricity in Victoria up $39, or 43 per cent, compared to the same quarter in 2023.

And the lowest winds in seven years resulted in a 20 per cent fall in electricity generation and reduced rainfall caused an 18 per cent reduction in hydro-electricity in the national market.

Which is where Jacinta’s journey comes in. Allan knows that not only is banning gas a vote loser, the government will be brutally punished for doing anything to exacerbate cost of living pressures.

Has a shift toward common sense already begun?

In June, Victoria’s first gas extraction project in a decade was approved by the state government, approved by D’Ambrosio herself.

It’s a start, but there are concerns Jacinta’s journeys may be consultative, but they are also long and arduous.

The government took a beating over its plans to raise the criminal age and mooted health cuts for months before common sense prevailed.

Once upon a time, under an administration not so long ago, that never would have happened.

And another thing

There were some lessons to be learned from the weekend Northern Territory election in which Labor was booted after two terms in government.

The “it’s time” factor may be much bigger than people think, and will be something Allan and her team have to address head on come 2026.

Strategists who worked on the NT campaign say if the Victorian opposition can look remotely unified and competent, they won’t need to be spectacular or even good to have a chance of winning.

They also say while race politics is much more of an issue up north, especially post The Voice, annoyance at political parties that prioritise that over cost of living issues could play out in outer Melbourne too.

Shannon Deery is State Politics Editor