John MULLAHY (Glen Waverley)
I rise today in support of the National Electricity (Victoria) Amendment (VicGrid Stage 2 Reform) Bill 2025, a bill that represents not just a legislative milestone but a transformative moment in Victoria’s energy future. This bill is about planning smarter, building better and ensuring that every Victorian, especially those in my electorate of Glen Waverley, benefit from a cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy system. Victoria is undergoing one of the most rapid energy transitions in the world, and nowhere is the impact of this transformation more keenly felt than in our suburban communities, places like Glen Waverley, where families, small businesses and local institutions rely on affordable and dependable electricity every single day.
Since 2014 our government has nearly quadrupled the share of renewable energy in Victoria’s power generation. We are on track to meet our 2025 targets of 40 per cent renewables by the end of the year, and we are not stopping there. We are aiming for 65 per cent by 2030 and 95 per cent by 2035. Now, to get there, we need to unlock around 27 gigawatts of new capacity, and that is nearly double the current capacity on the network. With 4.8 gigawatts of coal-fired generation retiring before 2035 and demand increasing by 40 per cent as we electrify homes, businesses and transport, the need for a modern, responsive transmission network has never been greater. This bill delivers exactly that. It establishes VicGrid as the body responsible for planning Victoria’s transmission network and enables a transfer of key functions from the Australian Energy Market Operator, AEMO, to VicGrid, ensuring that planning is done by a body that is accountable to Victorians, not to private interests. It creates a new framework for renewable energy zones that will bring transparency, certainty and coordination to how we connect renewable energy generation and battery storage to the grid. It ensures that communities and traditional owners are not just consulted but empowered through benefit-sharing frameworks, community energy funds and a new compliance regime that puts fairness and accountability at the heart of land access.
For Glen Waverley this bill means cheaper power, cleaner energy and a stronger grid. It means that as our community grows – as we adopt electric vehicles, install rooftop solar and embrace battery storage – our infrastructure will keep pace. It means that local schools, hospitals and businesses will be powered by some of the cheapest electricity ever produced. The Electrical Trades Union, the ETU Victoria, has long championed secure, well-paid jobs in the energy sector, and the National Electricity (Victoria) Amendment (VicGrid Stage 2 Reform) Bill aligns strongly with their mission, representing thousands of workers across electrical contracting, power generation and manufacturing. The ETU sees this bill as a critical step in ensuring that Victoria’s energy transition delivers tangible employment outcomes. By establishing VicGrid as the central planning authority for transmission, infrastructure and renewable energy zones, this bill unlocks billions in investment and sets the stage for the creation of 59,000 jobs by 2035. These roles span construction, engineering, maintenance and energy services, fields where ETU members are already leading the way. The ETU supports the bill and emphasises the anticipatory planning, public accountability and community engagement that will ensure that infrastructure projects are delivered efficiently and fairly.
I do not want to take more time than I should. In short, the ETU views the VicGrid reform as a win for workers, a win for our communities and a win for Victoria’s clean energy future, ensuring that the transition is not only green but also job-rich. This work ensures Glen Waverley remains at the forefront of energy transformations. With that, I will hand the call over.