MELBOURNE, Nov 24, 2018 – Victorians have given renewable energy a big tick of approval by voting to keep Labor in government for four more years, with a mandate to expand and increase investment in solar, wind and battery storage.A short time ago, the ABC declared victory for Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who led Labor to the win over Liberal Leader Matthew Guy, who campaigned on repealing the Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET).
“The people of Victoria have voted for clean and reliable renewable energy,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific Campaigner Alix Foster Vander Elst said.
“This result confirms what polling has been telling us for years. In this election Victorians were presented with a choice between abandoning the renewable revolution or expanding it beyond large-scale renewable projects and into solar panels and batteries, and they voted for renewable energy.
“If the message of the Wentworth by-election wasn’t clear enough, the Liberal Party have been given another reminder. Australians are sick of the climate denial and scare-mongering. They want action on climate change and an energy system dominated by renewables and they will vote for parties who can deliver them.”
Seventy-five percent of Victorians want to see their state government increase investment in renewable energy to combat climate change, a Reachtel poll of more than 1000 Victorians conducted earlier this month found.
A Greenpeace commissioned report by RepuTex examining the impacts of the major parties energy policies on prices and emissions found the Coalition’s proposal to repeal the VRET, , which aims to power the state with 40 percent renewables by 2025, would result in the worst outcome for Victorians both in terms of power prices and carbon pollution. [1]
Labor’s policy of 40 percent renewables by 2025 would lead to the largest reduction in power prices, while the Greens policy of 100 percent renewables by 2025 would drive the steepest emission cuts by far.
Notes:
[1] Electrifying Victoria: analysing the impact of election policies on prices and the climate
Contacts:
Martin Zavan, Greenpeace Australia Pacific Communications Campaigner
0424 295 422
