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EMBARGOED UNTIL 12:01AM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11

Peak bodies, community service organisations, local government alliances and climate and energy groups are today calling on the Victorian government to urgently invest in energy efficiency measures, which will lower power bills, improve the health of Victorians and generate thousands of direct jobs across the state.
 

Their statement, calling on the government to invest in six energy efficiency measures, is an opportunity to create win/win solutions that get Victorians back to work and reduce the risk of future shocks to our economy. 

Available for comment are:

Emma King, CEO, VCOSS can discuss how climate change hurts low-income and vulnerable communities the worst, and why combating climate change fairly and equitably makes economic, environmental and social sense.

Conny Lenneberg, Executive Director, Brotherhood of St Laurence, can discuss how investing in energy efficiency measures will help struggling Victorians by reducing their power bills and providing job opportunities for people who are out of work. 

David Meiklejohn, Executive Officer, Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action can speak to how local governments have been leaders helping their communities with energy efficiency upgrades and how these improvements help protect people from rising energy bills and allow them to live comfortably. The actions in the statement can help build on the success of existing programs like Solar Homes and the Victorian Energy Upgrades. 

Rob Law, Executive Officer, Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance can speak to how energy efficiency incentives and support schemes are crucial to helping people in regional and rural Victoria, including our most vulnerable, to keep power costs down and improve health and wellbeing. 

Luke Menzel, CEO, Energy Efficiency Council can explain how investing in energy efficiency upgrades would create jobs, cut household power bills and help tackle long term problems like climate change.

For interviews, contact Vai Shah on 0452 290 082 or vaidehi@climatemediacentre.org.au