The Victorian Legislative Assembly Environment and Planning Committee Inquiry into renewable and affordable energy for apartments has released it's final report, HAAG made a submission to this inquiry and Fiona York, our Executive Officer gave evidence before the Committee. The Committee’s final report makes several references to HAAG's submission and evidence and we welcome some key alignments with our recommendations. 

• Energy efficiency in Public and Community Housing – HAAG’s recommendations called for energy efficiency upgrades in public and community housing. The Committee recognised this disparity in the findings and recommended assisting the social housing sector to improve the sustainability of its apartments and other multi‑unit dwellings.
• Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards – HAAG submission highlighted the power imbalance that results in tenants having little say in energy upgrades and recommended that these changes are expedited coupled with rigorous enforcement. The Committee’s finding 16 recognises that renters are unlikely to request sustainability upgrades or repairs due to fear of eviction. 
• Embedded networks – Many older people in embedded networks are not seeing the benefits of renewable energy produced onsite and lack transparency. In line with HAAG’s recommendations, the Committee recommends that the Victorian Government monitor the efficacy of the Embedded Networks Review reforms to ensure all apartment residents living in embedded networks have equitable access to renewable and affordable energy. 
• Upgrades and retrofitting older buildings – HAAG commissioned Priced out, Run Down: Older Australians in unaffordable and poor-condition housing report highlighted that most housing stock built before 1990s need to be retrofitted to meet modern standards and energy efficiency. We welcome the recommendation calling for the Victorian Government consider establishing means‑tested financial assistance to support critical front‑of‑meter electrical infrastructure upgrades (such as switchboards and wiring, excluding infrastructure behind the meter) that enable rooftop solar, batteries and electrification in apartments.

The report is silent on some other key areas we focused on our submission including the challenges in caravan parks, retirement villages and other types of housing, there is also no clear call for meaningful consultation with people who are most affected by these challenges. 

Although the recommendations are a step in the right direction, what is critically important is that the government takes necessary steps to implement the recommendations with meaningful investment and rigorous consultation with people in these types of dwellings in addition to the industry bodies.