News

Boating will become safer, cheaper and easier for all Victorians thanks to a raft of changes that will boost recreational boating and fishing.

The Andrews Labor Government is continuing its push to win a bigger share of the $US300 billion Chinese sports industry, with a major trade mission officially launched today.

Shooters Farmers and Fishers Helen Dalton has taken the Seat of Murray from the National Party while the Coalitions Gladys Berejiklian has become the first elected female Premier of New South Wales, retaining Government.

Mildura Airport is about to become a great deal busier with the opening of a new pilot training operation by Pearson Aviation catering for Chinese student pilots.

The Andrews Labor Government is trialing new technology to crack down on number plate theft and cloning.

In a Victorian first, 120,000 golden perch have been stocked into the Malmsbury, Coliban, Lauriston, Tullaroop and Barkers Creek Reservoirs and Lake Bellfield to improve native fishing opportunities thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

The Andrews Labor Government has agreed to provide a loan of up to $20 million to support Geelong manufacturer Carbon Revolution, to help it continue to grow and create local jobs.

Victorian families and small businesses will be able to demand a fair deal on energy and save hundreds of dollars on their power bills, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

Legislation to set a Victorian Default Offer has passed the Upper House, abolishing costly standing offers and requiring energy retailers to offer a fairer price on energy.

The legislation empowers the Essential Services Commission (ESC) to determine a fair price and work with retailers to enforce it.

The ESC recently released draft advice to the Government on setting the Victorian Default Offer and recommended a price that would save a typical residential customer between $390 and $520 per year, and a typical small business customer between $1,800 and $2,300 per year.

From 1 July, Victorian households and small businesses on standing offers will automatically be placed on the Victorian Default Offer – there are currently more than 145,000 Victorian families and around 45,000 small businesses currently on the costly offers.

An expert panel has been established to advise the Government on determining a fair price for electricity – the panel will work with the ESC to ensure Victorian consumers are front and centre of the Government’s reforms.

The expert panel will be chaired by Claire Thomas and as well as regulatory economist Dr Kris Funston, consumer advocate Catriona Lowe and the Secretary of the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning John Bradley.

While the Morrison Minority Government is fighting amongst itself on energy policy, only the Labor Government is getting on with delivering lower and fairer energy prices for Victorian families.

The new measure is part of the Labor Government’s final response to the bipartisan Independent Review of the Electricity & Gas Retail Markets in Victoria.

The Victorian Default Offer builds on the Government’s work to help Victorians take control of their energy costs by putting solar panels on 770,000 homes – more than 30,000 Victorian households have applied for the program.

We’ve also helped more than 300,000 people compare their energy offer through our $50 Power Saving Bonus, saving on power bills.