Wednesday, 9 September 2026

 Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (12:06): (1471) My question is for the Minister for Climate Action. Recommendation 6 of the 2024 Environment and Planning Committee inquiry into climate resilience called for the Victorian government to establish a climate adaptation fund to fund priority adaptation projects identified under the adaptation action plans and regional climate change adaptation strategies. A formatting error meant that this recommendation was not clearly highlighted in the original report tabled last year. However, a corrected report was tabled on 5 March this year. The government still has not responded to this key recommendation from the inquiry. With Victoria facing potentially the hottest and driest summer on record, will the government adopt this recommendation in full and establish a dedicated climate adaptation fund to help protect communities from the devastating impacts of accelerating climate change?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:07): I thank Dr Mansfield for her question and her continued advocacy in relation to climate adaptation. I think it is the first question I have had as the Minister for Climate Action. As you would appreciate, there is a whole-of-government approach to different departments and their requirements to meet goals in relation to emissions and climate targets. In relation to grants funding, there is some available in different portfolios, particularly in the agriculture portfolio. How about I get a collection of those and make sure that you have got that information and can see whether there are any gaps in the information that you are seeking?

 Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (12:07): I thank the minister for that response and appreciate that it is a new portfolio, but the question was very much focused on that very specific recommendation from the Environment and Planning Committee around establishing a dedicated climate adaptation fund. The science is very clear: big fossil fuel corporations are the main contributors to anthropogenic climate change. Will this government make them pay for the damage that they have caused, and continue to cause, by increasing levies on coal and gas company royalties to finance the establishment of a climate adaptation fund?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:08): As I responded to your substantive, Dr Mansfield, I will get you more information on the work the government is doing in relation to adaptation, including any funding streams.