Brett Whiteley (Braddon, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment. I refer the minister to the independent—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Braddon has the call.

Brett Whiteley (Braddon, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is right. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I refer to the independent Tasmanian Economic Regulator's price determination released last week that shows electricity bills will be 7.8 per cent lower in 2014-15 without the carbon tax. Will the minister inform the House how scrapping the carbon tax will lower bills for Tasmanians and who is standing in the way?

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I particularly want to note that the member for Braddon campaigned at the last election on the basis of lowering the cost of living. As a consequence of that, he secured—

Mr Swan interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Lilley, I will remind, there is a general warning.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

one of the largest swings in Australia. He campaigned on the basis of cost of living. So far we have heard a series of questions from our friends on the opposition benches today about cost of living. If you would like to do something about cost of living, bills were introduced today which would deliver a $550 a year reduction in the cost of living—right now, an immediate reduction in the cost of living. On that front—

Ms Rishworth interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Kingston, I would remind, there is a general warning in place if she wants to leave.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

not only is there a provision for the ACCC to ruthlessly pursue anybody who fails to pass on the electricity and gas price reductions, but regulators are already making decisions. I want to take the release of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator from 19 June. The Tasmanian Economic Regulator came to a very interesting conclusion. The regulator authorised a reduction of 7.8 per cent in the bills faced by Tasmanians today for their electricity. This is not a failure to increase; this is an actual reduction of 7.8 per cent. That is what Tasmanian families will receive if they have the carbon tax bills passed. The regulator went on to say that this is 'as a result of the energy market's expectation that the carbon price will be removed with retrospective effect from 1 July 2014'. But it is not just in Tasmania. In Queensland, the regulator has set down lower prices. In New South Wales, the gas regulator has set down lower prices. In the ACT, it is 11.6 per cent reduction compared with what would otherwise have been the case.

When we look at the private sector, over recent days we have had Origin, Alinta and Energy Australia all say that electricity prices would be lower and the full cost of the carbon tax would be passed through. Only an hour ago we saw AGL put out a release saying they will pass through the full cost of the carbon tax once the bills passed.

Mr Husic interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Chifley is reminded of a general warning.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In other words, the question then is: who is standing in the way of lower electricity bills for Australian families? Each and every one of those members on the opposite side. It is not the crossbenchers; it is the Leader of the Opposition and it is the members of the Labor Party who profess to care about the cost of living and who then vote for higher electricity prices. If you want to do something, get out of the way and support repeal.