Greens push to ban gas in new Victorian homes

The Greens have announced a move to ban all new gas connections to Victorian homes from 2025, seeking to stop current planning laws that require all new homes to be hooked up to gas.

New housing developments that could be fuelled by electric energy sources are currently forced to still install gas.

The Greens will introduce a bill to parliament on Tuesday that would see all new gas connections to homes banned from 2025.

The bill also seeks to stop Victoria’s planning laws from forcing new homes to connect to gas.

The state’s current planning laws require all new homes to be hooked up to gas where it is available.

New housing developments that could be fuelled by electric energy sources are still forced to install gas.

The party’s leader Samantha Ratnam will put forward the Planning and Environment Amendment (Transition From Gas) Bill 2022 in the upper house.

Greens MP Samantha Ratnam holds a doorstop on arriving at the Victorian State Parliament. Picture: David Crosling

Victorian Greens acting climate spokesperson Dr Tim Read said burning gas is a major cause of the climate crisis and is also extremely expensive.

“It’s ridiculous that Victorian laws are forcing new homes to connect to gas when we know how expensive, polluting and unhealthy it is,” he said.

“Cities and countries around the world are going gas free, yet Victoria is a laggard, forcing homes to be hooked up to gas.

“(The bill) will help protect our climate and save Victorians households on their energy bills. It’s a win-win.”

Dr Read said the state government has shelved a gas substitution road map until after the election.

“At a time when the gas industry is fighting tooth and nail to keep its foothold in Victoria, the government should be doing all it can to transition away from the polluting fossil fuel,” he said.

But Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the government would not be supporting the bill.

“Providing the means for Victorians to have the option of whether they go with gas or electricity is a matter for them,” Ms D’Ambrosio.

Lily D'Ambrosio, Victorian Minister for Environment and Climate Change, speaks to the media at Parliament House in Melbourne. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“Supporting them in that choice is really critical to achieving the outcomes that we want and the emissions reductions that we’re striving to achieve.”

Opposition leader Matthew Guy slammed the bill as “silly”.

“These concepts and ideas have no thought as to how they might impact Victorian homes, Victorian industry,” Mr Guy said.

“Yes, we need to move away but do it sensibly, do it with a long transition plan.

“Do it with security — what is reasonable? The Greens’ proposals never seem to be that word, reasonable.”