Llew O'Brien (Wide Bay, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Australia is a nation rich in energy resources, including uranium, coal, gas and renewables. While Australia has an abundance of electricity-producing natural resources, it is inconceivable that the cost of electricity in Australia is amongst the highest in the world. We must take better advantage of our natural resources to provide our nation with the cheapest electricity in the world. Our goal should be to have not the most expensive but the cheapest: cheap, reliable electricity to help pensioners keep warm in winter and cool in summer; cheap, reliable electricity to keep householders' costs down and ease the family budget; cheap, reliable energy to keep the cost of producing goods and services down and lower the cost of doing business in Australia; cheap, reliable electricity to boost our competitive advantage and boost exports and create jobs here in Australia. The Finkel review found that coal is by far the cheapest and most reliable source of power, whereas solar and wind cost taxpayers billions of dollars in subsidies each year.

My position on energy hasn't changed. It has always been that we should ensure that all forms of energy production stand on their own two feet, not be propped up by taxpayer subsidies, so we can take the best advantage of all our natural resources to produce cheap, reliable energy. This is why I support the National Energy Guarantee, as it's a mechanism by which our cheaper electricity potential can be reached, locking in reliable power and lower prices, providing market confidence and certainty.

I recently conducted an electorate survey asking people their opinions on a range of issues, including whether they support renewable energy. Unsurprisingly, 78 per cent of the survey respondents are in favour of renewable energy, but it's also clear from the survey results that the respondents don't want to pay more for renewables. Just nine per cent of the survey respondents said they'd pay more for renewables so Queensland could meet its unrealistic 50 per cent renewable energy target. So, while renewables are popular, people don't want to pay more for them. We just want the cheapest electricity—whatever it may be—and that is what I am committed to delivering for my seat of Wide Bay.

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