Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

I thank my honourable friend for the question. I quote:

… renewable energy connected with transmission and distribution, firmed with storage, and backed up by gas-powered generation is the lowest-cost way to supply electricity to homes and businesses as Australia transitions to a net zero economy.

That's a direct quote from the Integrated Systems Plan, released today by AEMO, our market regulator, and which I'll table. It's a detailed, concrete, well-considered plan which has been informed by more than 2,000 consultations and a thousand scenarios. It found that renewables, backed by transmission and storage, are the lowest-cost pathway for the Australian energy system.

It goes on to say:

That transformation is essential for the Australian economy to enjoy affordable and reliable energy in the future, as well as achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

And the Australian Industry Group has said:

The 2024 Integrated System Plan is the best roadmap we have to meet our energy needs, …

The Ai Group is right. This is what good policy looks like—well-considered policy based on facts, based on evidence, based on detail and based on research.

And the member asked me about what policies we reject. It's not really a fair fight when you compare the detailed documentation and the consultation which goes into the government's energy policy with the one-page thought bubble we see from those opposite. No costings, no details, no models—no details whatsoever. And we know that the opposition knows the cost. The Leader of the National Party let the cat out of the bag. He said, 'We know what they are, we're just not ready to tell you yet.' It's a surprise! It's a surprise, according to those opposite!

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