Mr J BULL (Sunbury) (11:45:56): (223) My question is for the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change.

What is the latest information on the take-up rate of the Andrews Labor government’s solar panel system 50 per cent rebate program across the Sunbury electorate?

Members will know of course that from the middle of August last year local residents had the opportunity to install a solar panel system and get half the cost back via a 50 per cent rebate.

This will be expanded to an interest-free loan from July this year, a commitment we took to the election—a commitment that was overwhelmingly endorsed. It is expected that this massive investment will bring the number of homes in Victoria with solar panels to 1 million within 10 years, which will save Victorians $500 million a year on their energy bills, something that is certainly very important to my community.

There is genuine excitement in the Sunbury electorate about this program, and I certainly look forward to the minister’s response.