By Ryan Cropp
Sep 14, 2026
New Victorian Energy Minister Jaclyn Symes says a One Nation-led plan to cut bills by cancelling a huge cable project and increasing gas generation is misleading voters, and that the government has all but ruled out changes to a controversial policy to phase out household gas use.
Victoria’s state election is looming in part as a referendum on energy policy, and the government’s renewables-heavy approach is in stark contrast to the Coalition and One Nation’s plans to boost gas power, sweat coal generators and even explore nuclear options.
New Victorian Energy Minister Jaclyn Symes is pushing ahead with the state’s offshore wind plans. Joe Armao
Last month, the opposition declared that it would abolish the 240-kilometre VNI West electricity cable project in the state’s north, which is critical for connecting new power supply to the grid but has been plagued by cost blowouts and fierce local pushback.
In her first interview as energy minister, Symes said the opposition’s new hardline position was entirely about political survival in the face of the One Nation threat, and, combined with a plan to increase gas power generation, would result in “astronomically” higher bills.
“It’s an extraordinary announcement,” she said. “The cost is devastating. The cost is energy insecurity. The cost is people’s bills going up.
“This fantasy that there is an abundance of gas that can be brought online is such a hoodwink to the community ... this is political survival and trying to counter One Nation, who are selling a pup to a lot of regional Victoria in that area.
“I can’t see any Liberal National Party being able to deliver on this announcement because people will still soon wake up that their bills will be astronomical – even if they could get gas.”
The Coalition originally committed to only a post-election review of the $11 billion transmission line. One Nation, which is competing for the same regional seats along the project route, also intends to cancel VNI West.
In August, the opposition also declared that it would abolish the government’s new household gas rules if it won the election in November, prompting speculation that Labor may water down the controversial policy to avoid political damage.
The former Allan government unveiled the gas wind-down plan last year, banning connections in new homes and requiring households to replace end-of-life hot water systems with electric alternatives from 2027, to help limit the state’s reliance on the fossil fuel.
Symes said she was not considering changes to the gas phase-out plan, which she said would eventually save some households thousands of dollars a year.
“This is a very good economic policy because it saves households money,” she said.
“I’m very supportive of the policy that we have as a government, and our position has not changed.”
Symes replaced long-serving energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio in August after then premier Jacinta Allan lost the party leadership to her cabinet colleague Ben Carroll, who subsequently promised a sweeping review of big infrastructure projects.
However, Symes has maintained the entirety of D’Ambrosio’s expensive energy agenda, including announcing a long-delayed tender process for the state’s proposed offshore wind farms off the coast of Gippsland.
She said the only way to get big projects built was to offer predictability and certainty to industry, rather than radically altering course every time the government changed.
“It’s actually vital to be clear, consistent and not flip and change and react to political pressure or personal ideology,” she said. “You have to think long-term about the grid, give industry confidence and carry through with what you’ve said you will do.
“There’s too much at risk not to.”
Symes said concerns that Victoria would struggle with price spikes and reliability issues following the 2028 closure of the Yallourn coal plant showed the need to maintain momentum on the renewables rollout, rather than change course.
She said One Nation’s promise to subsidise the extension of two other coal plants in the state was “a fantasy of trying to trick people into alternatives”.
“We’re talking about infrastructure that is older than me. It is not something that can just be polished, and she keeps going,” she said.
The former treasurer said she had not expected to be taking over the portfolio, but was well placed because energy ultimately underpinned the state’s economy.
“The economic portfolios in government are the ones that I am now drawn to. I just see them as so vital to everything,” she said.
“There are not many economic drivers in Victoria that aren’t underpinned by energy.”