Major medical and equity organisations are calling on Victoria's premier to provide greater rebates to replace gas appliances, flagging "dangerous" health risks.
Healthcare workers and community advocates gathered on the steps of the state's parliament on Thursday morning to deliver a letter to Premier Jacinta Allan.
The open letter was signed by 15 groups, including the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Asthma Australia, and the Australian Federation of Medical Women in a bid to prompt the government to act.
It urges the premier to implement an equitable electrification program, which would provide greater financial assistance and rebates for households to replace gas appliances with electric alternatives like induction cook-tops.
Currently, rebates cover $140, which doesn't typically pay for a basic induction cook-top, leaving many unable to make the switch.
It comes after Premier Jacinta Allan's ban on gas in new Victorian homes since January as part of the government's plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2045.
However, the ban didn't apply to existing gas cooktops and she wouldn't be drawn on whether households would need to replace gas hot water systems or if heaters would eventually be forced to go electric.
At the time, the premier said gas was a diminishing resource and households would be encouraged to replace existing appliances with electric.
In their letter, the groups pin-pointed potential gas-related woes including asthma, leukaemia and climate impacts.
Gas cook-tops increase the likelihood of children developing asthma by about 30 per cent, according to letter organiser Healthy Futures.
Co-Founder of Healthy Futures and GP Harry Jennens said some Victorians are being left behind on the switch due to financial reasons.
“We are particularly concerned about people on low incomes who might struggle to afford to retrofit their homes, and renters who have less control over their living circumstances," he said.
"Besides the health risks, these people are likely to face increasing gas supply charges as other people switch to electricity and leave the gas network."
Aadhil Aziz, Council Member of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Victoria Council also flagged concerns.
"We know gas cook-tops pose significant health risks – they increase the risk of leukaemia due to dangerous toxins, and children developing asthma," he said.
