The Greens have slammed the Victorian Labor government for encouraging more fossil fuels in the middle of a climate crisis as Labor plots more offshore gas projects in Victoria and backflips on their plans to phase out dangerous gas cooktops in homes.
It follows reports today that reveal that the Premier has excluded electrifying existing gas cooktops from Victoria’s net zero road map and has signalled new laws to encourage more offshore gas projects.
The Victorian Greens have labelled this move as another cowardly political decision that denies basic climate science and exposes kids to more asthma-causing gas fumes in homes.
Gas cooktops are not only terrible for the climate, they’re expensive and they lead to complex health issues including childhood asthma.
The Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell says that the Premier is denying climate science and blowing up any ambition that this government had of tackling the climate crisis.
Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:
“How disappointing that the Labor Premier is giving in to the fossil fuel gas corporations and their lobby groups yet again. This is a cowardly, political decision that denies basic climate science.
“We’re in the middle of a climate crisis caused by burning fossil fuels, yet Labor wants to pour more fuel on the fire and encourage more offshore gas projects in Victoria.
“Just last month we recorded the world’s hottest day. In a time when countries across the world are trying to speed up their pathway to net zero, the Labor Premier is winding Victoria’s back.
“We’ve seen backflip after backflip from this Labor government. Instead of listening to climate science and the experts, Labor is pandering to the ring-wing conservatives and fossil fuel lobby groups.
“We don’t need any new gas, Australia already exports far more than we’d ever need. It’s expensive and destroys the climate. We should be focussing on supporting people to move to electric cooking and heating, which works just as well and is a lot cheaper and cleaner.”