Kat THEOPHANOUS (Northcote) (15:46):

I rise to speak in support of the Energy and Land Legislation Amendment (Energy Safety) Bill 2025 which is part of our ongoing efforts to forge a safe, reliable energy network – one that is fit for purpose and adaptive to our modern world.

We are well into an era of transformative change in the way we power our homes, businesses and industries.

Our Labor Government has been at the forefront of this work, meeting every single emission reduction and renewable energy target we have set and driving crucial investment into Victoria’s energy, resources and infrastructure sectors.

The groundbreaking, large-scale projects we are progressing - including massive battery, wind and solar projects but also at a household and community level with things like rooftop solar, efficient appliance upgrades and neighbourhood batteries – will not only employ Victorians for decades to come but will safeguard our state, and give future generations a climate resistant energy network.

Speaker, the stakes are high here: the transition to clean energy represents one of the most profound opportunities of our time but also demands that we build in the right regulations, the right governance to protect communities, anticipate risks and future proof the system.

The measures contained in this legislation amendment reflect that ongoing work to carefully calibrate the system and the structures which sit behind it, to maintain safety, reliability and affordability.

Now there’s been a lot of argy-bargy in this chamber about the fundamental direction Victoria should be headed when it comes to energy supply. I’m not going to delve into that space because frankly, the people I represent in Northcote have stood at the forefront of the energy transition for a very, very long time and we do not need to be re-prosecuting debates about the value of renewable energy, protecting the environment or ending coal.

My community understands that we must transition – and that this transition must not only be safe and reliable – but just. That means bringing communities with us and delivering tangible support to households on that journey.

And I’m pleased to say, Speaker, that over the past 6 years as the Member for Northcote, I have worked hand in hand with local organisations, leaders and everyday residents to make tangible advancements in our collective efforts for a safe climate.

That includes pushing for the Solar for Apartments initiative, for Gas-Free Social Housing, for stronger protection for our precious Waterways, for a Neighbourhood Battery in Alphington, for more Tree Canopy down High Street in Northcote and Thornbury.

Northcote is living proof that progressive, tangible and just energy policy is not only possible but popular and transformative. We recognise that every step towards cleaner energy is also a step towards healthier, more inclusive communities.

We see the evidence in the real savings on power bills for people who were previously locked out of renewable schemes. We see it in improved air quality, in the pride people take being a part of our climate solution, and in the knowledge we are leaving a liveable, sustainable city for our children.

Speaker, one of the particularly splendid aspects of the inner north in which I live is its tree canopy. Many of our streets are lined with mature gums, plane trees, oak and wilga trees. These trees not only add to the charm and character of our streetscapes, but serve a crucial purpose in cooling down our urban suburbs which would otherwise suffer from the very real impact of the heat island effect.

Protecting and expanding this urban tree canopy has been one of my priorities locally and something I’ve raised on numerous occasions in the Parliament, with Yarra and Darebin Councils, with Government and indeed, directly with Energy Safe Victoria.

All you have to do is walk down an urban street on a 35 degree day and take a moment to stand first in the sun, and then in the shade of a tree, and you’ll understand the profound difference it makes to have natural shade.

And it’s not just shade – trees are a filter for air pollution; they support mental wellbeing; they make our streets more accessible for pedestrians; they are integral to our city’s liveability – particularly as we densify.

Yet all too often, I’ve seen beautiful mature trees being lobbed down because of the tension that arises between the demands of our energy infrastructure – particularly powerline clearance rules – and the imperative to protect our canopy.

This happened in Gladstone Avenue in Northcote, where regrettably and against our advice and advocacy, the then Greens-dominated Darebin Council opted to remove a number of gorgeous mature gums and residents were understandably devastated.

It’s why I have been calling for much more nuance to be applied to the current regulations for electrical line clearances and for regional and metro areas to be considered differently in terms of their risk profiles and the serious impact of removing canopy from inner-urban suburbs.

Blunt and indiscriminate tree removals cannot be the default – and Councils have a huge role to play here too. Councils are responsible under the regulations for keeping trees clear of electrical lines on the public land they manage (which is most local streets).

Ideally, Councils should be pruning trees in advance to accommodate for the safety requirements; this would prevent vegetation growing too close in the first place. Arborists are very proficient at doing this as the tree grows - and trees grow slowly as we know.

But for existing mature trees, this can be difficult. Which is why I’ve been exploring with ESV what other options are available to councils when they are faced with a situation in which power lines too close to trees pose a risk of fires, electrocution or outages.

There are a range of measures already available to Councils. These included applying conductor covers, installing aerial-bundled cable, realignment or putting the lines underground. 

Importantly, there are also a range of exceptions and exemptions which Councils can apply to allow them to deviate from the minimum clearance space required. Yet from what we know, Councils on the main simply don’t make use of these provisions.

Meaning trees get cut down unnecessarily.

Suffice all this to say that I think more work needs to be done – particularly in the lead up to renewing the regulations for Electrical Line Clearance Regulations – to enable more avenues to protect our urban tree canopy.

This legislation makes important changes to ensure we maintain a proactive approach to energy safety and that we can continue with our ambitious renewable energy and climate targets. It does alter the governance structures and process around the clearance regulations – and I note that some opposite have raised concerns about consultation.

Yet it’s not normal practice for regulators – in this case ESV – to also have the function of createing policy. Which is why the responsibility for making the regulations was shifted to DEECA back in 2021.

DEECA will consult publicly on the remake of the regulations and I think that’s a good thing because it means people in my own community – locals and advocates – can have their say on these regulations and the impact it’s having in our suburbs.

I know that when that opportunity arises, I will certainly be having conversations with both Darebin and Yarra Councils as well as people in my community about the importance of getting these right.

Speaker, today I’ve focused on a particular part of the legislation but I do note that there are a range of amendments which help us keep up with new energy safety risks that are being introduced by changes in industrial and residential technology, business models and consumer behaviour.

This includes introducing new entry power for Energy Safe officers to enter premises with a Magistrate-issued warrant so they can investigate risks to public safety, as well as expanding their powers to stop unsafe work and suspend an electrical contractor registration or electrical worker licence where it is in the public interest.

The Bill also clarifies that the Minister for Environment can sign a contract to lease unreserved Cown land on agreed terms – a change that reduces barriers to large-scale energy, resources and infrastructure investment in Victoria.

That is a really important thing to do. It’s about delivering on our Labor Government’s vision for an energy system that is modern, environmentally responsible and socially inclusive.

And Speaker let’s not forget that our Government has been responsible for the revival of the SEC to put power back into the hands of Victorians. We are responsible for the Solar Homes and the Victorian Energy Upgrades scheme, enormous programs delivering real-world tangible energy savings for families across our communities.

In Northcote we are working with Village Power to establish a neighbourhood battery – an amazing initiative that is part of our work to decentralise the energy network.

Speaker, for my community in the inner north, pieces of legislation like this which deliver pragmatic, practical steps to fortify our renewable energy sector and create a regulatory environment that protects consumers and safeguards our environment – that kind of work really makes the difference.

It’s about securing a quality of life for not only this this but the next generation and the one after that.

We need a reliable, affordable and clean energy network – one that is sensitive to the needs of both regional and metro areas and the particular pressures we face.

It needs to be sustainable and it needs to have equity at its core.

I look forward to our Labor government charting a path to a clean energy future for our state, and this Bill contributes to that effort.

I commend it to the House.