Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Before the election, the Prime Minister promised that, if he were elected, he would deliver a $275 cut to electricity bills, cheaper mortgages for Australians and higher wages. Given the budget now says power prices will rise by 56 per cent, a typical mortgage now costs $1,140 more a month, and wages are falling far behind inflation, when will the government fess up and apologise for misleading Australians?

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

As loath as I am to make a partisan point at question time—I normally try and rise above such matters, as honourable members know—the honourable member opposite leaves me no choice. The honourable member talks about budgets and energy price rises, and I feel obliged to remind the honourable member of the evidence of the Treasury secretary before Senate estimates this week. He said:

The increase in prices this financial year reflects increases in the default market offers published in May by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and associated market dynamics.

It says 'those published in May'—in late May, as it happens. They were meant to be published in early May, but there was an intervention by the member for Hume.

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

Member for Hume, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has asked her question.

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

The member for Hume previously denied doing that. He said, 'No, I didn't.' Can I say that the government had—

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

Order! The Minister for Climate Change and Energy—

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition, I'm trying to call the Manager of Opposition Business. When the House comes to order, I will hear his point of order.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance, in question time, you've previously directed a minister to be relevant to the question where the minister has strayed and begun talking about the record of the former government. The minister here, again, is up to it, and he should be directed back to this very tightly drafted question.

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! The question included commitments before the election, cuts to bills, rise in wages, mortgage rates. It was quite a broad question in the topics covered, but I'm going to invite the minister to return to the question. I give him the call.

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I also recall that it mentioned the need to apologise. There are some people who need to apologise. The member for Hume originally denied hiding the price increase. This week, or last week, he did finally admit it. He told the National Press Club, 'I did as was recommended by the industry department and by the regulator, so it's what they wanted.' He has finally admitted doing it but he has thrown his former department under the bus, blaming the bureaucrats. I have little doubt as to why he did that. The member for Hume was minister for some time. On the day that the member for Hume became the energy minister, the price of energy in the national energy market was $92.63 per megawatt hour. On election day, his last day in office, it was $241 per megawatt hour. Talk about the need to apologise! Those opposite should apologise for 10 years of denial and delay and dysfunction. They should apologise for the dishonesty at the end as well.

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! There is far too much noise on my right, the minister for the environment and water and the minister for infrastructure.