Joanne Ryan (Lalor, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak about the clean energy transition and what it means for communities like mine in Lalor. Too often the conversation about clean energy can feel abstract or distant, but in Lalor it is neither of these things. It is already happening in people's homes, on their rooftops and, increasingly, in their driveways. In Lalor, local families are embracing practical clean energy solutions that lower bills and power their homes.

Across the country, Australians have installed 250,000 home batteries with Labor's 30 per cent discount. My electorate has some of the highest battery installation rates in the country with more than 2,000 batteries installed, placing suburbs like Tarneit, Hoppers Crossing and Werribee among the top five in Australia for total installations. This is really exciting news, and I'm really pleased to see that locals are getting the technology that is going to support them to decrease their energy bills. Families in my community are pairing solar with home batteries so they can store energy during the day and use it when they need it most in the evening when households are busiest and electricity demand is highest. This has been happening through a time where Victoria faced catastrophic weather and avoided the brownouts because of the number of people who were using solar. It tells us very important about the people in my electorate—they are practical, forward-thinking and looking for real ways to reduce their household bills.

Clean energy is not just about the power in our homes. It is also about the way we move. Lalor is one of the leading electorates in Australia when it comes to the uptake of electric vehicles. According to the EVC, Tarneit and Werribee are among the top suburbs in the country for electric vehicle ownership, and the reason is simple. People in my community have long daily commutes for employment, and switching to an EV can save households up to $3,000 annually. This is money back in the pockets of families, money that can go towards groceries, energy bills, school costs and repayments.

This government understands that supporting the clean energy transition must also make life more affordable for our communities. That's why the Clean Energy Finance Corporation has committed up to $60 million to partner with Hyundai Capital Australia to reduce the upfront cost of electric vehicle ownership. Through this partnership, Australians will be able to access discounted finance on eligible Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles, making it easier for more households to make the switch. At the same time, the Labor government has introduced policies like the fringe benefits tax exemption for electric vehicles which helps reduce the cost of EVs for Australian workers and families and, importantly, has created, or is partly responsible for, the second-hand EV market, which people in my electorate are jumping at, taking to like fish to water.

Yet the opposition, particularly the Nationals, complain about the cost of living and interest rates while labelling the EV FBT exemption as wasteful. In my electorate, people are seeing this as an opportunity, an opportunity for working class people with long commutes to cheapen their travel costs. You cannot claim to care about household budgets while opposing policies that help Australians save thousands of dollars every year.

The reality is that communities like mine in Lalor are already embracing a clean energy future. What my community is showing is simple. Clean energy is not just good for the environment. It is good for family budgets and for Australia's economic future. The people in Lalor who are investing in solar, in batteries and in electric vehicles are part of the future, but they're also demonstrating that working class people care about the issues and care about their hip pocket. In Lalor, the clean energy transition is already delivering real benefits, cutting emissions, lowering costs and putting more money into the pockets of Australian families. The infrastructure is keeping up locally. I want to give a shoutout to my local government, who have installed EV chargers at community centres around my electorate. They're in there supporting and helping my community move with the future, save money and make life easier.