Wednesday, 9 September 2026

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:01): (1470) My question is to the minister for energy. Minister, I refer to the Auditor-General’s report entitled Managing the Transition to Renewable Energy of December 2025 and note that your department refused to provide key information to the Auditor. He said:

We requested that the department provide analysis of potential electricity supply issues during unusually prolonged dark and still periods in winter. The department did not provide this analysis.

I therefore ask: why did your department refuse to provide the Auditor-General with taxpayer-funded modelling pointing to the risks of blackouts in winter? And will you make this secret modelling public, releasing it for all Victorians to see?

The PRESIDENT: I took on your advice, Mr Davis, from yesterday, and I am just going to call the minister.

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:02): Mr Davis, it is not possible for me to answer your question because I was not the minister at the time.

David Davis: On a point of order, President, part of my question was: will the minister provide that information and make it public?

Members interjecting.

David Davis: It is simply a point of order, President.

The PRESIDENT: If there are multiple questions, the minister can pick one.

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:03): I simply ask the minister: will she make this information public?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:03): Mr Davis, I am not in a position to answer the question as you have put it, because you have made assertions which I do not believe are in line –

David Davis: I quoted the Auditor’s report.

Jaclyn SYMES: Your interpretation of what you believe is in the possession of the department I cannot confirm. What I can confirm is that this government has a plan to keep the lights on, to keep bills down and to make sure that we transition to renewable energy, which is going to be cheaper and more reliable for all Victorians.

David Davis: On a point of order, President, it is a very simple and narrow question: will she make that material public? And the answer –

The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister was being relevant to the question.