Anne Webster (Mallee, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Mildura Fruit Juices Australia in my electorate of Mallee has had to reduce its intake of grapes this season, as the energy cost to evaporate into grape concentrate is now unviable. The company's general manager has reported a $500,000 per year price hike in electricity this year. Why is Mildura Fruit Juices not enjoying the reduction in power prices the Prime Minister promised?

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

I thank the member for her question. I'll ask the energy minister to supplement here, because I haven't given myself any other portfolios! I make this point to the member about the company in her electorate in Mildura. She asked about the price of gas, but they came in here and voted against a cap on gas prices. They voted against it. They said it would be Armageddon—I quoted some of the things that were said by those opposite—if we dared to put a cap on gas prices, which we did. It was the right thing to do, and it had an impact. In addition to that, the member voted against the $3 billion, combined with the Victorian government along with other state and territory governments—

Anne Webster (Mallee, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on relevance: I was actually talking about electricity, not gas.

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

I give the call to the Prime Minister.

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

Thank you very much. They voted against the entire plan, which consisted of a cap on gas prices and a cap on coal prices, implemented through the Liberal Party in the New South Wales government, and they voted against the $3 billion plan. I would ask the minister for energy to continue.

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

Well $1,676 is the difference that this government has made to the average Victorian small business because of our intervention, reducing it by $1,676.

That's the difference!

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

The member for Fairfax will cease interjecting.

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

They voted for power price rises $1,600 higher than what they are. That's what the opposition, the honourable member, voted for—$1,676 higher increase.

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

Order. The Leader of the Nationals and the member for Fairfax will cease interjecting.

Order! If the member for Fairfax interjects one more time, he will leave the chamber.

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

I'll tell you what else we've done. On Tuesday night, we introduced tax treatment of investments for businesses, small- and medium-sized businesses, to invest in more energy efficient operations to reduce their power bills and reduce their emissions. The opposition is probably against that as well, Mr Speaker. They hate tax cuts which are actually good for business and good for the climate, like our electric vehicle tax cut was, like the package that the government released on Tuesday night is. We actually believe in supporting small business through difficult times. The opposition believes in voting for higher power prices.