The battleground for gas as states eye bans on new connections
With the City of Sydney council voting last week to consider banning gas connections to new homes, it is now heading down the path of the Victorian and ACT governments which have already flagged a ban on all new gas hook-ups.
Sydney Council’s decision comes as a slight surprise considering it follows on the heels of New South Wales Premier Chris Minns’ assurance that there would be no ban on gas connections less than a month ago.
Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction.
ACT’s Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction Shane Rattenbury says the territory is the first Australian jurisdiction to be powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity and to commit to phasing out fossil gas.
According to Rattenbury, the ACT government has set world-leading emissions targets and is making the important changes that are needed to achieve them.
“Setting a clear direction for electrifying our city will mean that we cut emissions and with rising gas costs, electrification offers a more affordable, zero emissions alternative,” he says.
The Victorian government announced in July that all planning permits for new homes and residential subdivisions will only allow connections to all-electric networks, a decision criticised by gas producers and pipeline owners.
It added that all new public buildings that haven’t reached design stage will also be all-electric. This includes new schools, hospitals, police stations and other government-owned buildings.
Victoria’s Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio said: “We know that with every bill that arrives, gas is only going to get more expensive”.
State government figures show the gas sector contributes about 17 per cent of the state’s emissions.
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