Page 4112 - Week 12 - Thursday, 1 December 2022
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Let me turn, firstly, to zero emissions vehicles. We continued our leadership in promoting the uptake of zero emissions vehicles. This included conducting research and analysis to inform the development of a new zero emissions vehicles strategy for the ACT. The strategy was released in July 2022 and sends a clear signal about the future of transport and includes nation‐leading initiatives such as the 80 to 90 per cent zero emissions vehicles sales target for 2030 and plans to phase out light internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035.
Also, 100 per cent of newly leased passenger vehicles entering the ACT government fleet were zero emissions vehicles, where a fit-for-purpose model was available. This is a great achievement and one that makes ours one of the largest zero emissions vehicle fleets in the country. To enable this transition, we installed more than 150 electric vehicle chargers at ACT government sites, with another 200 coming online soon.
In 2021 the ACT won the Cities Power Partnership Sustainable Transport Achievement Award and in 2022 we were finalists for the clean technology category at the Banksia Foundation Awards, in recognition of this work on our government vehicle fleet.
With regard to gas transmission, we also made good progress in our work to reduce emissions from gas. In the reporting period we undertook extensive research and analysis to identify the most appropriate gas transition pathway for the ACT, including the consideration of energy consumer needs, challenges and opportunities.
In August 2022 we built on this work by announcing the ACT’s pathway to electrification, providing clear direction to the community that electrification offers the more efficient and effective option for achieving zero emissions.
The Sustainable Household Scheme was launched in September 2021 and is supporting the community to shift off gas, install solar and batteries and purchase electric vehicles. Through to 30 June 2022, over 6,400 households applied for loans and a total of $62 million was approved in loans. Over 75 per cent of this has gone back into the local industry and economy. The scheme won the Future Cities Award at the 2022 National Banksia Sustainability Awards, recognising the scheme as a nation-leading initiative.
With regard to minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties, considerable work was conducted during 2021‐22 to prepare for the introduction of minimum energy performance standards for rental properties. This included research, analysis, a regulatory impact statement and consultation with stakeholders. In November 2022 we announced the new minimum standards, which will come into effect from April 2023 with a phase-in period to 2026. This is an important achievement and one that will make a real and lasting difference to many renters.
Too many people are living in homes that are too hot in summer and too cold in winter, making their homes unhealthy and expensive to heat and cool. The new standards will raise the bar for rental properties, affecting only the lowest performing 40 per cent of properties that do not currently comply.
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