Ted O'Brien (Fairfax, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question goes to the Prime Minister. A multigenerational family-owned IGA in the town of Mapleton in Queensland is facing 400 per cent increases in its power bills, which threatens the business and indeed will have a devastating impact on the local community. When will they receive the $275 cut to their power bill on which Labor made promises on over 90 occasions?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm asked about the cost of energy in Queensland, and what we know is that in March a decision was made that there would be an increase in wholesale energy prices. What occurred, though, was that there was no transparency there. It came into effect on 1 July. It's not surprising, because one of the problems Australia has got is that we have a national energy grid that was built for the last century, not this century. What we know—and we stand by the modelling that was done by RepuTex; let me explain it—is if you have a cheaper form of energy, which renewables are, than fossil fuel energy at the moment then you'll get lower power prices. That's the way the system works. Business understand that, which is why the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Industry Group, the Clean Energy Council and other business groups—

Ted O'Brien (Fairfax, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance, the family who own the IGA are the Andersons. They're struggling. My question to the Prime Minister—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For the benefit of all members, points of order on relevance are not a reason to bring new material into the question. You must state the point of order on relevance and resume your seat. I'm giving a general warning to all members that that standing order will not be abused. It's becoming too loose at the moment, and I'm asking all members to respect that standing order.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are some lo o se units over there!

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Prime Minister, return to the question.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When you have a cheaper form of energy, energy prices will go down. It's not hard to understand. But not only did they have 22 energy policies and not land a single one when they were in office; they now have come up with a new one. It isn't renewables; it's nuclear power. The shadow minister is looking at the nuclear option. No-one likes a reactor like a reactionary! No-one likes a reactor like a reactionary.

Remember, the last term when they were in government, they came in here and carried around a lump of coal. Remember that? They handed it around, the member for New England and the member for Cook. I'll give them this bit of advice now they're going down the nuke option. I'll give them a bit of advice: don't bring in a bit of uranium and pass it around, because that won't work well. If I don't do anything else for you today, for the sake of this chamber, don't do it.

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! There is far, far too much noise in the chamber. When we have silence, we will continue. I give the call to the member for Pearce.