State Parliament's Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee will conduct an inquiry proposed by the Liberals and Nationals into the expansion of Victoria's high-voltage power transmission system.
It will examine the expansion as proposed by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), VicGrid and the Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) as well as the expansion of Victorian transmission connections associated with the Victorian Government's proposed "renewable energy zones". It will report by 19 December 2025.
While expanding Victoria's low emissions electricity generation capacity is welcome, proposed new low emissions electricity generation infrastructure must be balanced against its effect on impacted farmers and regional communities and not be driven solely by the interests of electricity consumers, most of whom live in Melbourne far from new overhead high voltage transmission lines and industrial-scale solar and wind electricity generation infrastructure.
Low emissions energy generation and distribution is not cost free and not every Victorian will benefit from its expansion, which is why the Committee's terms of reference importantly includes looking at ways to improve the planning rules and processes for proposed new low emissions energy generation and distribution infrastructure, including requirements for:
- proponents to consult with affected communities;
- proponents to be accountable for actioning and responding to feedback received from communities;
- adoption of best practice planning principles, including increasing resilience and reduction of risk to the community;
- whether the proposed compensation schemes are adequate; and
- initial project approval evaluations which capture and assess the full environmental, economic, social, risk reduction and health impact.
Shadow Minister for Energy, Affordability and Security, David Davis, said: "Over the last 10 years Labor have botched energy policy with power prices for households and businesses surging off the Richter scale.
"Over the same sorry decade, energy supply in Victoria has become less secure, with AEMO warning of gas and electricity shortages and interruptions. Businesses are leaving Victoria because of uncertain energy supply and surging prices.
"Premier Jacinta Allan and her Energy Minister have stripped planning powers from communities and curtailed consultation. The impacts on communities must be examined and fair arrangements put in place.
The Allan Labor Government has lost social license for its forced imposition of high voltage transmission lines over vast swathes of country Victoria and its proposed renewable zones have been another botched consultation with communities steam rolled."
