New residential dwellings built in Victoria after January 1 will not be able to install gas connections, the government has announced, as it seeks to phase out use of gas in the state.
Energy and Resources Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said residential planning permits approved from the beginning of 2024 will only allow electrical connections, while all new public buildings that have not already reached the design stage will also become all-electric.
Around 80 per cent of Victorian homes are currently connected to gas, meaning the state has the highest use of residential gas in the country.
D’Ambrosio has said the move was about helping tackle cost-of-living pressures as well as climate change.
“The cost of living for Victorians is getting bigger and bigger,” she said.
“Doing something about it is exactly what today is about.
“We know that with every bill that arrives, gas is only going to get more expensive.”
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D’Ambrosio said the ban would help homeowners save around $1000 on their energy bills each year.
She further said that reducing the state’s reliance on gas was critical to meeting the state’s emission reduction target of 75–80 per cent by 2035 and net zero by 2045.
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The gas sector contributes about 17 per cent of the state’s emissions, according to the government.
The Greens have been quick to express their support for the ban, saying it is one of the measures needed to help accelerate Victoria’s shift away from polluting fossil fuels.
“Banning new connections is an important reform the Greens have been calling for for years,” Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens Ellen Sandell said.
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The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACP) has also welcomed the ban in the interests of safety.
“Phasing out gas in our homes is the right choice for our health and the climate,” RACGP deputy chair Dr Aadhil Aziz said.
“Gas stoves expose people to respiratory irritants, which leads to a multitude of respiratory conditions, and research indicates this includes triggering asthma in children.”
Meanwhile, Institute of Public Affairs: deputy executive chair Daniel Wild has said the ban “is another example of the ever-growing intrusion of the Victorian Government into the day-to-day lives of families”.
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