Friends of the Earth and Environment Victoria congratulate the 236 candidates who have signed the Cheaper Power Pledge - making up around 40% of all candidates standing for the Victorian state election.
With cost of living as a top issue determining Victorians’ votes, the Pledge commits candidates to supporting policies that ramp up the clean energy transition in a way that leaves no one behind and provides energy bill relief.
“We know that clean energy is the cheapest form of power, and that nearly a million Victorians are already saving money by having solar panels, batteries and electrified homes. We commend these candidates for listening to Victorian communities and pledging to help more people access cheap, clean energy,” said Joy Toose, Environment Victoria spokesperson.
The broad show of support for the Cheaper Power Pledge includes candidates from Labor, The Greens, Animal Justice Party, Victorian Socialists, Legalise Cannabis, and Independents. No candidates from the Liberals, Nationals, or One Nation have signed, with several actively refusing to sign on.
“The lack of sign-ons to the Cheaper Power Pledge by Liberal, National and One Nation candidates points to the gap between these parties’ policies and what Victorian communities keep telling us they want: cheap, clean energy for all,” said Anna Langford, Friends of the Earth’s Energy Justice spokesperson.
“Millions of Victorians, including renters and apartment dwellers, are missing out on the benefits of cheap, clean energy such as rooftop solar and batteries. If the Coalition and One Nation say they care about tackling cost of living, why don’t they have plans to ensure all households can participate in the shift to renewable energy and its benefits?” asked Anna Langford.
Candidates are still able to sign onto the Cheaper Power Pledge until pre-poll opens on November 18.
“We welcome the commitment of all candidates in the Victorian state election to cleaner, cheaper power that can play a vital role in shaping a more affordable and sustainable future for families in all Victorian electorates,” said Joy Toose.
BACKGROUND INFO:
A full list of candidates who have signed on can be found here.
The breakdown as of Nov 10 (percentage of lower and upper house candidates who have signed the Pledge from each party):
Labor: 25 (27%)
Greens: 85 (89%)
Vic Soc: 76 (76%)
AJP: 26 (78%)
Independents: 20 (57%)
Other Parties: 4 (6%)
Liberals: 0 (0%)
Nationals: 0 (0%)
One Nation: 0 (0%)
Total: 236 (40%)
THE PLEDGE:
The cheapest energy system is one built by and for all Victorians.
1. Give Victorians the cheapest, most reliable power
I will back the investment needed to grow Victoria's renewable energy and storage infrastructure, and support delivering Victoria's legislated climate targets as our ageing coal plants retire. I will protect the constitutional ban on fracking, and won't support diverting public funding into slow, expensive technology like nuclear power when cheaper, ready-to-go solutions already exist.
2. Ensure no Victorian worker, family, or community is left behind
I will support the policies, funding and genuine community involvement needed to make sure every Victorian benefits from cheap, clean renewable energy: from homeowners, to renters and apartment residents who are too often stuck with old, costly gas appliances they have no power to replace.
3. Protect Victorians from price shocks
I will back accelerating the shift to cheaper renewable energy and support electrifying homes and businesses, so Victorians rely less on costly, volatile gas and unreliable coal and are shielded from global price shocks. I will support the State Electricity Commission's place in Victoria's Constitution, because Victorians deserve an energy provider that answers to them, not shareholders.
Contact details:
For further comment, contact:Anna Langford (Friends of the Earth) - [email protected] - 0478031771Joy Toose (Environment Victoria) - j.toose@environmentvictoria.