David Gillespie (Lyne, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment. What savings have been passed on to families and businesses since the government scrapped the world's biggest carbon tax? Are there any plans to take away any of those savings?

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

I particularly thank the member for Lyne, who is not just a successful GP and not just a successful Pollie Pedaller but, more than anything else, he is a successful representative of the families and pensioners of Lyne, because he voted to repeal the carbon tax and bring benefits to families. And, guess what, those benefits are already flowing to families. We said that there would be electricity savings of, on average, nine per cent and gas savings of, on average, seven per cent. Somebody doubted that this would actually happen. Let me take the House to ABC AM on the morning of the carbon tax repeal, 17 July 2014. The interviewer says, 'But Labor predicts the savings will not match the government's expectations,' and then somebody else says, 'Well, do Australians really believe they are going to see back all the money which Tony Abbott alleges the carbon price cost them?' That somebody was the Leader of the Opposition. And the answer is yes—because those savings are already flowing.

Since the carbon tax repeal, there have been over 100 determinations of price reductions by different firms, in different states, for gas and electricity. Let me give some examples. In the member's own state of New South Wales, residential customers with Energy Australia are going to receive an 8.9 per cent price reduction in their electricity bills because of the repeal of the carbon tax. If they are with Simply Energy, they are going to receive a 10 per cent reduction.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

I heard a question from one of the galahs up there about Queensland. If they are with Simply Energy, it is a nine per cent residential production. If they are with Ergon Energy it is a 9.4 per cent reduction—

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

I would ask the minister to refer to members by their correct titles. He will withdraw the term he used.

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

I am happy to withdraw any avian references, Madam Speaker, and I apologise for that.

Mr Burke interjecting—

I am still waiting for a question on the environment from you. I have not had one question on dugongs, not one question on turtles—not one question on the environment from you guys. And you are the Manager of Opposition Business who used to be the environment minister. Come on, give us just one question!

Ms Ryan interjecting—

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

Order! The member for Lalor will remove herself if she is not quiet! She is not entitled to speak from that seat.

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

Let me make this point: in Queensland, where the question came from, for ERM Power there will be a 9.1 per cent electricity price decrease and for Energy Australia there will be a 9.1 per cent electricity price decrease. But there is somebody who wants to bring back the carbon tax, and that is the Leader of the Opposition. So every one of those decreases in electricity prices is about to go up if 'Electricity Bill' has his way. Don't trust Bill!

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.