Zoe McKenzie (Flinders, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. An elderly couple in my electorate of Flinders, Joe and Julie Siragusa, were contacted by their energy company in January and were advised they were facing an increase of over $667 on their gas bill over the next 12 months. This is the very opposite of the Prime Minister's promised $275 reduction in power prices. Why do Australians always pay more under Labor?

Government members inte rjecting—

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

Order! Members on my right will cease interjecting. The Prime Minister will be heard in silence.

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

I thank the member for Flinders for her question, and I say that we acknowledge that there are cost-of-living pressures on Australian families at the moment, which is why we don't sit back and do nothing about it. It is why we don't vote against it. It is why we come in here and we take action in the short term and in the long term. It is why we introduced the legislation and brought parliament back last December. I don't understand why those opposite came in here and voted against that change, including the member for Flinders, because, as the New South Wales Premier said at the time:

This is focused … on putting downward pressure on household bills right across New South Wales.

He said this:

We know it's a difficult time, and I think the country coming together to deal with this across party political lines shows the maturity that we have to make sure we're putting people first, not playing politics and getting to a point where households and businesses across our state are in a much better position in what will be a difficult time with rising electricity prices.

Those opposite used to acknowledge that there was an issue with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the pressure that that was placing on energy prices. But now they don't seem to acknowledge that at all. But the business community certainly get it. The business community absolutely get it, which is why Manufacturing Australia, the peak organisation—

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

The Prime Minister will pause. I will hear from the Manager of Opposition Business.

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

It's a point of order on relevance, Mr Speaker. Joe and Julie Siragusa are facing an increase of over $667 on their gas bill. What is your message for them?

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

On the point of order, I will hear from the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, it's very clear that, when a question is asked using an individual as a reference, it's completely in order to talk about the policy area—completely in order.

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

The question was about energy prices. The Prime Minister is being directly relevant by talking about energy prices. There were individuals mentioned in the question. He's referring to the policy, and I will invite him to continue his answer.

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

The question was about consumers and energy policy. Here's what Energy Consumers Australia's CEO said: 'We applaud and support all elements of the proposed gas market reforms.' That's what they said.

Innes Willox of the Australian Industry Group said:

By passing legislation to enable temporary gas price caps the Parliament has taken badly needed action that will … help energy users and soften the blow to Australia from events in Europe.

The Business Council of Australia's Jennifer Westacott said:

It's good that state and federal governments have found a way through …

…   …   …

Australia's energy system has been stuck in a loop for too long, and Australians are paying the long term price of short-term action.

That's exactly right.

Rod Sims, ACCC, said this is inherently a sensible thing to do. Indeed, it was, which is why it's absolutely extraordinary that those opposite voted for higher prices by voting against it.