The November state election: how do the policies compare?

Written By Steve Wilkins

The upcoming Victorian state election could have a big impact on our progress with energy transition and electrification.

Electrify Yarra is not a political organisation, but we thought it might be helpful to provide this comparative overview of major and minor party platforms regarding the energy transition, net-zero targets, and household electrification initiatives.

Note - policies can change quickly, this information was correct at the time of writing, October 15.

1. Victorian Labor Party (Incumbent)

  • Renewables & Transmission: Strongly supports large-scale renewable buildouts and major transmission projects, including the $7.6 billion VNI West 240km transmission line connecting Victoria and New South Wales to replace retiring coal capacity.

  • State Electricity Commission (SEC): Continues the rollout and investment mandate of the revived SEC to drive public investment in renewable generation, commercial storage projects, and workforce training.

  • Electrification & Efficiency Standards: Assertive building regulations, including all-electric requirements for new residential/commercial builds, phased transitions for end-of-life gas appliances, and stricter rental efficiency upgrades supported by the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program.

  • Gas Connection Bans: Continued implementation of the phase-out of natural gas connections in new residential homes requiring planning permits, with broader long-term transitions for commercial and public sectors.

  • Appliance Rebates & Upgrades: Support for households transitioning to heat pump hot water, induction cooktops, and efficient reverse-cycle air conditioning via Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) and Solar Victoria initiatives.

    Sources: current regulations and incentives, SEC website, Solar Vic, VEU, Victoria’s Gas Substitution Roadmap

2. Liberal-National Coalition

Liberal party policies:

  • Transmission Pushback: Vows to scrap the VNI West project and pause the Western Renewables Link, citing community pushback, agricultural impacts, and social licence concerns.

  • Gas & Firming Capacity: Proposes industry auctions favoring gas-fired firming capacity and throw open the doors to new conventional gas projects

  • Electrification Rollback: Opposes strict all-electric mandates and regulatory bans on gas installation, favoring a flexible energy mix that protects gas infrastructure, manufacturing, and plumbing trades.

  • Energy Choice: Commitment to reversing mandatory gas bans on new home builds, allowing home buyers and owners to choose between gas and electric appliances.

  • Metro Solar Focus: Incentivizing urban rooftop solar and commercial/industrial battery installations closer to urban electricity demand.

  • Domestic Gas Supply: Supporting domestic gas production to maintain reliable local energy reserves throughout the broader multi-decade transition.

    Sources: First 100 days – key policy and legislative highlights, More gas, fewer poles and wires - our plan to keep the lights on and prices low

Additional National party policies:

  • Introduce an Energy Security Requirement to lock in additional gas and other electricity generation

  • Enforce 2km buffer zones for wind turbine projects

  • Establish Renewable Energy Zones in metropolitan Melbourne, unlocking rooftop solar on the vast warehouse and industrial rooftops across the city’s suburbs.

  • Give regional communities a real say on transmission - stop VNI West, halt the Western Renewables Link, and subject every major transmission line to a proper transparent review

    Sources: Our Plan for Regional Victoria

3. One Nation Victoria

  • Scrap all net-zero targets and subsidies.

  • Cancel VNI West, WRL and other multi-billion-dollar large-scale transmission projects driven by the net-zero agenda.

  • Provide long-term industry security to encourage investment into upgrading coal power infrastructure.

  • Give Victorian household and industrial demand first call on Victorian gas. Genuine surplus can still be exported.

  • Gas price discipline: the price paid by Victorian users for gas should not be higher than the export price.

  • Support continued exploration for commercial offshore gas reserves

  • Reverse the ban on gas connections in new homes.

    Source: One Nation Victoria: Energy

4. The Victorian Greens

  • Accelerated Gas Phase-Out: Ban gas drilling in Victoria's oceans and close the state's remaining coal-fired power stations earlier, replacing them with a huge build of publicly-owned renewables.

  • Fossil Fuel Exploration Bans: Cease all new exploration or extraction licenses for gas and fossil fuel resources across Victoria.

  • Ban fossil fuel donations to politicians and double royalties on coal and gas.

  • Put solar on Victorian schools and public housing estates, and make big polluters fund clean-up for communities hit by climate disasters.

    Source: Greens Policies A-Z, Victorian Greens

What electorate am I in?

We have a mix of possible seats in the City of Yarra, as set out below. To find the electorates for your address go to https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/electoral-boundaries/which-boundaries-cover-where-i-live

Three Legislative Assembly (Lower House) state electorates cover parts of the City of Yarra:  

  • Richmond: Covers the bulk of the municipality, including Richmond, Cremorne, Burnley, Abbotsford, Collingwood, Fitzroy, and Clifton Hill.  

  • Brunswick: Extends into the northwestern sections of the City of Yarra, covering Princes Hill, North Fitzroy, and Carlton North.  

  • Northcote: Covers the northeastern sections, including Fairfield and parts of Alphington.  

For the Legislative Council (Upper House), the City of Yarra falls within the Northern Metropolitan Region.

Steve Wilkins
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