Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The great north-west of Victoria, including my old stomping ground in the Mallee and Nicholls electorates, is a vast region that is powering the nation and tackling climate change head-on. Spanning more than 96,000 square kilometres, an area larger than Tassie, this region is experiencing hotter summers, longer fire seasons and more erratic rainfall. And its communities are adapting, protecting what matters and keeping the region strong.

People here understand that we must both mitigate and adapt to the challenges faced by climate change, and that mitigation is not a dirty word. It is actually how we safeguard our future. From Ouyen to Mildura, Swan Hill to Shepparton the renewable energy rollout is driving new jobs and investment, with strong support across all levels of government. And the Albanese Labor government has their back. There are no climate change deniers on this side of the chamber. We're backing the transition with investments in grid upgrades, larger-scale solar and affordable home batteries to help regional communities and farms to thrive.

In Mallee and Nicholls more than 800 households have already taken up the Cheaper Home Batteries Program. We're also backing the regions critical minerals sector to create jobs, build skills and drive sustainable mining, because it is these minerals that power the solar panels, wind turbines and batteries that will drive our clean energy future.

As Mildura mayor, Helen Healy, has said:

Mildura is proud to be known as the Solar Capital of Australia, and our community has shown overwhelming support for a clean energy future.

It is time for the Liberals and the Nationals to back the regions by backing a renewable energy future.