While many major party promises ring the same tune in Ballarat, particularly in the sectors of education and community sport, environment policies tell a story of vastly different ideologies.
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Renewable energy could prove a hot topic for voters, following a year of wind farm construction boom in Western Victoria and plans for a $11 million training institute to be based out of Ballarat’s Federation University.
The Victorian Labor Party unveiled a plan to set Victoria’s renewable energy target at 50 per cent by 2030 on November 8.
The plan aims to build on legislation that sees 25 per cent of all electricity generation coming from renewable sources by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2025.
Speaking in Ballarat on Tuesday, Premier Daniel Andrews said Victoria could be a leader in renewable energy.
“These sorts of investments are great for the planet, they’re great for jobs, they’re great for our state and they are very important in terms of adding additional supply into the grid to put a downward pressure on prices,” he said.
In contrast, the Victorian Liberal Party has vowed to scrap the Victorian Renewable Energy Target if elected to government on November 24.
“A Liberal Nationals Government I lead will scrap this unrealistic target so Victorians don't have repeated black-outs and higher electricity prices,” Matthew Guy previously said in a statement.
Opposition leader Matthew Guy has also committed to retain Victoria’s coal fired power stations.
But he has just this week promised to provide $10,000 grants to help 700 Victorian state schools install solar.
Meanwhile, the Labor government has introduced a half-price solar panel rebates scheme. Under the scheme a re-elected Labor government will pay the full upfront cost of solar panel installations, with households able to pay off half the cost via an interest-free loan after June 30 2019.
READ MORE Solar panel plan for renters
Labor also announced a rooftop solar rebate for renters which would enable renters to share the cost of installing solar panels or solar hot water on their rental home with the state government and their landlord.
In other matters, a container deposit scheme has long been campaigned for by environmentally minded supporters.
Almost every other state and territory in Australia has introduced a container deposit scheme, or is in the process of doing so.
But the Liberal party said in August it was against a container deposit scheme.
Victoria's Environment Minister Lily D'Ambrosio said she wasn't sold on the necessity of a container deposit scheme, but would be monitoring the performance of it in other states.
See what’s on offer at this State Election with our wrap-up coverage on key areas and key promises:
- EDUCATION: New schools guaranteed to help ease Ballarat's growing problem, regardless of election outcome
- TRANSPORT: Politicians promising fast rail, but do we really need it?
- SPORT AND RECREATION: Everyday players given sporting chance in election build-up
- HEALTH: Hospitals, mental health in election sights from both parties
- EMERGENCY SERVICES: a statewide approach for Emergency services promises
- SOCIAL WELFARE: Calls continue for social welfare investment in lead up to state election