The fight for the future of gas has heated up after outspoken senator Jacqui Lambie took a sly stab at an Australian state.
The Tasmanian independent told the Today show on Monday that she “won’t be ordering steak” in Victoria amid plans to phase out gas.
“God, you cannot have a good steak without gas, mate,” Ms Lambie told host Karl Stefanovic. “Don’t do it in Tasmania.”
The remark comes only days after the Victorian government announced plans to ban all gas connections in new homes from 2024.
From January 1, all new residential builds, including subdivisions and public housing, will only have access to electric power supply.
All public buildings, such as schools and hospitals, that are still in the design phase will immediately switch away from gas as well.
The move is intended to combat rising gas costs while also helping the state meet its emissions targets and address health concerns.
The announcement drew mixed reactions from across the country amid increased scrutiny of gas.
Faced with pushback, Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp doubled down on the Today show, stating that gas was “so yesterday”.
“It (the phase out) has been a part of the City of Melbourne‘s planning guidelines for some time now,” she said.
“Of course it needs to be affordable and for any households suffering stress from cost-of-living rises, that needs to be managed well.
“But, it is good to have targets and plans towards transition. This is a very positive thing for Victoria.
“Come on-board all the other states.”
Support for the transition away gas has been mixed across the country, with the ACT already making the move this year.
From January 1, all new homes in the capital will be built without gas connections.
In Sydney, some councils have in their own areas backed the move, including Waverley Council in the city’s southeast.
Melbourne-based think tank the Grattan Institute has for years advocated for government intervention in gas use at home.
The institute’s Energy Program director Tony Wood wrote on Twitter last week following the announcement that “the journey begins.
“The Victorian government’s decision to take the first step to get off gas will draw harsh criticism from vested interests,” he said
“Taking hard but necessary decisions are what governments are elected to do.”