Returning to Victoria, where the future of existing gas heaters and hot water systems remains under a cloud despite the government’s softened stance on cooktops.

As mentioned earlier this morning, gas cooktops will be excluded from a review of the state’s net-zero emissions framework, meaning residents will be able to keep cooking with their existing gas appliances well into the future.

Previously, the roadmap was to consider whether Victorians would be forced to replace their gas cooktops with electric ones once they reached their end of life.

Gas connections to new homes are banned in Victoria and there is no change to this policy.
Greens leader Ellen Sandell has described the softened stance as a backflip.

“Instead of listening to climate science and the experts, Labor is pandering to the right-wing conservatives and fossil fuel lobby groups,” Sandell said.

“We don’t need any new gas. Australia already exports far more than we’d ever need.”

But, at a press conference this morning, Premier Jacinta Allan insisted the latest approach got the balance right.

“I’m wanting to be really clear that Victorians can continue to keep cooking with gas on their existing gas stove, and if they need to replace it, they will be able to do so,” she said.

“The clarification today is for cooking purposes [not heaters or hot water].”

The premier also ducked questions on whether Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio was unhappy with the softened stance, or whether a deal was cut to retain existing gas cooktops at the expense of forging ahead with phasing out gas heaters.

D’Ambrosio has previously made headlines for angering sections of the gas industry, who perceive her to be anti-gas.

“I think our energy and resources minister has been doing a huge amount of work for a number of years to support Victoria’s energy transition,” Allan said.

“She, alongside the government, has always been clear that gas has a role to play in that transition.”