MPs wore branded hats which sought to recast the SEC as “Soaring Energy Costs”.
The SEC, formerly a state-run energy supplier, is being re-established by the government with aims to invest in renewable energy, help household switch to all-electric and create jobs in renewable energy.
Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said the SEC plan was “just a hoax for Victorian consumers”.
“There’s no way known we’re going to see costs for electricity come down under the Allan Labor government,” Mr Walsh said.
“We’re going to call them out on it.”
Ms Benham said the SEC stood for nothing but soaring energy costs.
“It’s not going to bring our prices down,” Ms Benham said.
The default offer for energy bills in Victoria by an average of 25 per cent in May this year, mainly due to significant increases in wholesale electricity costs, according to the Essential Services Commission.
The Victorian Government said the new SEC will put power back in the hands of Victorians by investing in generation and storage and building the workforce needed to drive the state’s energy transition.
SEC Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said last week that Victorians should fear a future Coalition government opting to privatise the SEC again or abolish it.
“Public ownership is good because it’s about Victorians having some ownership of the electricity system,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“The profits that it makes will go back into creating more renewable energy, more supply, making it cheaper, and creating 59,000 jobs.”
