Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. How is the Albanese Labor government's plan working to lower energy prices? What energy policies have been rejected at home and overseas?

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

I thank my honourable friend for the question. What a champion for regional Australia the member for Bendigo is! The member for Bendigo knows that the Albanese government's coal and gas caps, together with the rebates in the budget before last, have worked to put downward pressure—real downward pressure—on prices, which we saw reflected in the default market offer just a couple weeks ago. That has been followed of course by the $300 rebates which go to every single energy bill in the country from the Treasury's budget delivered just a few weeks ago.

But we also know that renewables are the cheapest form of energy and that getting more renewable energy into the grid is good for prices. And we aren't the only ones who know that; that is understood by governments around the world. Last year, 130 countries signed a pledge to triple renewable energy by 2030—that's 130 countries tripling renewable energy by 2030.

The honourable member asked me what policies are being rejected at home and abroad. The answer is, of course, the most expensive form of energy. This is a very important point, because that is nuclear energy and we've had a lot of misinformation from honourable members opposite. The leader of the National Party is keen to say: 'Look at America. Look at what's happening in America.' Well, what's happening in America is the cancellation of a small modular reactor after a 70 per cent cost blowout; that's what's happening in America! We've had the member for Hinkler and our old friend the member for New England saying that we are the only OECD country without nuclear power. In fact there are 16 OECD countries without nuclear power—16. But the Leader of the Opposition himself says, and he says this all the time, 'Australia is the only country of the G20 which hasn't got nuclear power as part of its energy mix, or which hasn't committed to doing so as part of its domestic energy mix.' We've all heard him say it repeatedly. The G20 is a very important organisation, and a key member of the G20 is Germany—the third- or fourth-largest economy in the world, depending on the measure. They closed their last nuclear power station last year, in April. The Chancellor of Germany said, 'Nuclear energy is over; it's a dead horse.'

Rick Wilson (O'Connor, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They're importing nuclear power!

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They're bringing it in from France!

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

Oh, I say, they get it from France. France and Germany are different countries! One has the Eiffel Tower and one has the Brandenburg Gate! They are different places; they speak different languages.

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

Order! Members on my right. The member for Moreton will cease interjecting.

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

I rise on a point of order on relevance.

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

The member for Fairfax is entitled to raise a point of order and he will be heard in silence

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

The minister can't be relevant if he does not understand that Germany imports electricity from France.

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

Resume your seat.

No, you don't have my permission, so resume your seat. The minister will pause for a moment. Look, it was a nice try, but I had been specific with the member for Wannon about the process. We cannot have a situation where people get up and debate a point of order with relevance. Question time has never worked like that. It's not going to start like that. The member for Fairfax will leave the chamber for abuse of standing orders.

The member for Fairfax then left the chamber.

The minister in continuation.

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

Another country in the G20 is Italy. Italy banned nuclear power in 1987 after a referendum. To be fair, they did have another go in 2011 and held another referendum and found 94 per cent of voters against nuclear power in Italy. I don't think that's a commitment to get nuclear power in Italy, which is also in the G20. The opposition could clear all this up. They could clear it up by releasing their policies and their costings and start telling the truth about nuclear power, not misleading little grabs. Tell the truth and release your policies. (Time expired)

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

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy will cease interjecting.

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! When the House comes to order, I would like to hear from the member for Kooyong.