Jacinta Allan has opted for the most politically palatable position as she vies to chart a course to a historic fourth term in government
The internal polling on gas must have been diabolically bad for Jacinta Allan to chance exposing herself to a huge internal fight with her energy minister, and anti-gas warrior, Lily D’Ambrosio.
Opinion
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In moving to soften the government’s position on gas, Jacinta Allan has saved her toughest policy test for last.
As predicted in these pages last week, the issue is the next to be tackled by Allan as she cleans the barnacles from her political hull.
And it’s the last of the major policy problems Daniel Andrews handed to her when he jumped ship last year.
There’s been bail reforms, raising the age of criminal responsibility, a second CBD injecting room,duck hunting and proposed health service mergers.
In addressing each, Andrews’ less progressive successor has opted for the most politically palatable position as she vies to chart a course to a historic fourth term in government.
Public polling has sunk to worrying lows for Labor in recent weeks.
But the internal polling on gas must have been diabolically bad for Allan to chance exposing herself to a huge internal fight with her energy minister, and anti-gas warrior, Lily D’Ambrosio.
D’Ambrosio is at odds with almost every other energy minister in the country with her focus on ridding the state of gas.
But while D’Ambrosio is charging full steam ahead towards electrification, experts warn Victoria doesn’t actually have the puff to get there in time to meet her ambitious targets.
Now she appears at odds with her own Premier.
Gas is hugely popular in Victoria.
We boast the highest use of residential gas in the country, with about 80 per cent of homes connected.
Forcing people off it so the state can meet ambitious emissions reduction targets is unlikely to be a vote winner.
And Allan knows it.
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