Why are these Building Electrification regulations so important?

Fossil gas in our homes isn’t just a climate issue—it’s a public health concern. Cooking with gas releases nitrogen dioxide—a known respiratory irritant, and benzene—a carcinogen linked to leukemia. Studies show that children living in homes with gas stoves have a 30% increased risk of developing asthma—similar to the risk of secondhand smoke.

Despite these risks, gas appliances remain the default option for most Victorian homes:

• 9 out of 10 of homes still use gas.
• Victoria has the highest use of fossil gas for heating, hot water and cooking in Australia.
• Gas contributes to 17% of our emissions currently, but without immediate action, this is due to blow out to 37% by 2035. 
• Victoria's own gas reserves are running out fast, and
• Gas prices have tripled in the past 10 years ...

So we're reaching a tipping point where a confluence of multiple factors can be easily supported by better regulations to shift Victoria away from its gas dependence.

We have a critical opportunity to change this now!

The Victorian Government is asking for public feedback on its plan to phase out gas appliances. The proposed regulations would ensure that old gas appliances are replaced with efficient, electric alternatives at their end-of-life—cutting household energy bills, reducing pollution and protecting public health.

This transition is long overdue, but the gas industry is pushing back, which is why YOUR voice is needed right now to show strong public support (especially from health professionals) for clean, healthy and affordable homes in Victoria. The more submissions to this Regulatory Impact Statement there are, the louder our voice can be amongst those who are attempting to prop up the gas industry.

📢 Submit your response to the Engage Victoria Submission Page here:

If you'd like to be more informed about the reasons why we're supporting this regulation, you can read the Healthy Futures submission for more details.

On the Engage Victoria Submission Page, there is a link for an easy survey that you can complete. To make it simple, we've outlined recommended responses below, as well as key points you may wish to include. Personal stories are always powerful—if you or your patients have struggled with gas-related health issues, unaffordable energy bills or difficulty transitioning to electric appliances, consider sharing your experience.

1. Do you support the introduction of Building Electrification regulations?

☑️  Recommended Answer: Yes – Fully Support

WHY?

Regulations are essential to ensuring that:

• More people switch to efficient, cost-saving electric appliances.
• Healthcare workers are not burdened with treating preventable illnesses caused by gas pollution.
• Victoria can transition from reliance on costly, polluting energy to becoming a leader in clean, sustainable and economically viable innovations.

Without regulation, the gas industry continues to profit while Victorian families and businesses suffer—enduring worsening health impacts and skyrocketing energy costs.

2. What is your preferred option for the transition?

☑️  Recommended Answer: Option 2 - Comprehensive phase-out of gas appliances for New and Existing Residential and Commercial Buildings—including residential (but not commercial) gas cooktops.

WHY?

• Protects renters and low-income households from rising gas prices by ensuring they can access electrification support.
• Leads to full electrification over time, including cooktops, which release harmful pollutants linked to asthma and other respiratory diseases.
• Delivers the greatest climate, economic and health benefits by ensuring gas appliances are phased out across residential AND commercial buildings.

Option 3 (the government’s preferred option) excludes harmful gas cooktops in residential homes, and existing commercial buildings, unjustly leaves many businesses locked into costly, polluting gas.

If you'd like to view a chart with all the options and what they include, you can see it here.

3. Why do you support Option 2? (Optional Free Text Response)

Consider highlighting:

• Health impacts: Gas cooktops are linked to many bad health outcomes, including higher asthma rates in children.
• Cost of living benefits: Electric appliances are cheaper to run, meaning lower energy bills for both residents and businesses.
• Equity concerns: Renters, low-income households and people in social housing should not be left behind in the transition.

Personal stories make a difference. Have you or someone you know struggled with high gas bills? Have you seen the health effects of gas exposure? Share your experience.

4. Do you support the proposed exemptions?

☑️  Recommended Answer: Yes

WHY?

Some exemptions may be necessary for situations where electrification is currently unfeasible. For instance, upgrades for Commercial kitchens are particularly expensive at this stage. However, exemptions must be tightly controlled to prevent loopholes that allow continued gas expansion.

5. Do you think additional exemptions should be added?

☑️  Recommended Answer: No

Why?

The more exemptions that exist, the more people remain trapped in polluting, expensive gas infrastructure. Supply charges are set to become very expensive in order for buildings to stay connected to the gas-grid. The goal should be to transition all buildings to clean energy as quickly as possible.

6. How important is it that residential and commercial buildings move away from gas?

☑️  Recommended Answer: Very Important

WHY?

• Health impacts: Gas pollution worsens respiratory diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Economic fairness: If wealthier households electrify first, renters and lower-income families will be left covering the rising costs of maintaining the gas network.
• Gas supplies: Victoria is running out of gas fast, which means increasing costs and significantly higher emissions by importing more. 
• Climate action: Phasing out gas is a very important step in achieving Victoria’s climate goals.

7. What do you see as the main reasons for electrification? (Select all that apply)

☑️  Recommended Answers:

• Provides a healthier home
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
• Eases cost-of-living pressures through lower energy bills

Health should be a driving factor in this transition. Removing gas from homes will create cleaner indoor air, fewer hospital visits and healthier communities.

8. What are the biggest barriers to electrification? (Select all that apply)

☑️  Recommended Answers:

• Cost to replace appliances
• Lack of clear information, support and guidance
• Renters have no control over their appliances
• Tradies need better education on electrification options

WHY?

Transitioning away from gas must be accessible for everyone—not just those who can afford to make the switch. Rebates and financial support must be increased so that all Victorians, regardless of income, can access the benefits of electrification.

9. Do you have any additional comments?

Now is the time to express your personal passion for climate action.

Here, you can emphasise the importance of:

• Health protections: Reducing gas pollution is a public health necessity.
• Equity in electrification: Renters and lower-income households need targeted support to transition.
• A strong, ambitious plan: The government should be decisive and show strong leadership—this transition must be fast, fair and comprehensive.

The gas industry is lobbying hard to protect its profits at the expense of public health. The government needs to hear from health professionals and community members who understand the real-life impacts of gas pollution.

This is a rare opportunity to shape strong, health-first energy policy—but we need as many submissions as possible to show public support.

📢 Take five minutes to have your say now on the Engage Victoria Submission Page:

Together, we can ensure every Victorian home is safer, healthier and more affordable!