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

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition scoffs and says, 'Wow.' Well, it is good to provide support to small businesses for the energy transition. We on this side of the House think that. The opposition doesn't agree. The opposition does not agree with providing that support to small business. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition scoffs at that and dismisses it.

We're delivering $62 million in small business grants to improve energy efficiency to small businesses. In relation to residences, state and territory ministers agreed with me a couple of weeks ago to adopt a consumer energy roadmap, which I think the honourable member was referring to, which puts residences and consumers in charge of their own energy use. It gives them more opportunities to control the renewable energy in their house and in their driveway to make sure that they are getting the benefits as well as the immediate relief that has been provided in the budget of $300 for every person who receives an energy bill across our country and for small businesses. That is support in the medium term to let businesses and consumers make the choices which put them in charge to reduce their bills and emissions at the same time.

That is the real, concrete plan the Albanese government has put into place now that is providing relief now. It's not a fantasy plan in decades time to introduce the most expensive form of energy known around the world, a plan which might work in decades to actually introduce new energy, but that will be expensive energy. These are real plans today providing relief to Australians who need that support today.

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