Labor's Gas Substitution Roadmap update announced today will only worsen the cost-of-living crisis that is making life harder for Victorian households and small businesses.
Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D'Ambrosio, today stated "the typical Victorian residential customer is now paying over $500 more for gas than they did less than two years ago. That's an increase of 35 per cent".
What the Minister neglected to mention is that, over the same period, the average cost of the Victorian Default Offer for electricity has increased by $413 or 30.8 per cent.
The Minister also today announced an expansion of the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program, despite warnings from the St Vincent de Paul Society's Gavin Dufty, that an expanded VEU "will ultimately increase the power bills of all Victorians - including those living below the poverty line - in order to subsidise wealthier homeowners replacing gas appliances".
Shadow Minister for Energy, Affordability and Security, David Davis, said: "Forcing Victorians from gas to electricity not only denies them choice, but increases costs at a time households and businesses can least afford it.
"Under Labor, energy bills continue to rise and the expansion of the Victorian Energy Update program will only further disadvantage vulnerable households who are already struggling to make ends meet.
"Instead of restricting energy supply and choice for Victorians, Labor must focus on securing additional supply so that households and businesses can access affordable and reliable power they need and deserve."
