Meryl Swanson (Paterson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. What policies are bringing energy costs down, and what policies will push energy costs up?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Members on my left, there are far too many interjections.

The minister for agriculture is not helping either.

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

Policies that put energy prices down are energy bill relief—the policies of the Albanese government—and policies to introduce more and cheaper renewable energy. We're seeing that in the inflation figures this week. Last week, we saw the inflation figures and we saw electricity prices fall 17.3 per cent in the September quarter and 15.8 per cent over the 12 months—news that you would think all honourable members would welcome. We're seeing it in the medium term with wholesale energy prices. When we came to office, on the day we came to office, wholesale energy was $286 a megawatt hour. The average for this month so far is $67 a megawatt hour. These are the policies that are putting energy prices down.

My honourable friend asked me what policies push energy prices up, and I think most of the House has a pretty good idea of what they might be—the policies of the opposition to introduce nuclear energy. In the search for international examples to back the opposition's policy, the opposition and the Leader of the Opposition have focused on Ontario in Canada. On 50 occasions, the Leader of the Opposition has talked about Ontario. Last week, we heard from Professor Mark Winfield of York University in Ontario, the third-biggest university in Canada. He said:

The Australian opposition leader seems to be operating on a very limited understanding of the history and current state of electricity, energy and climate policy in Ontario.

He went on to point out that nuclear policy had bankrupted Ontario Hydro and left Ontario taxpayers with $21 billion of debt.

What did the opposition have to say about this, about the province that the Leader of the Opposition had mentioned and cited 50 times? Our old friend the member for Fairfax said, 'It's an isolated example.' So who do we believe—the Leader of the Opposition or an expert from the university of Ontario? The Leader of the Opposition makes things up. He said nuclear power plants would produce one coke can's worth of waste a year. It's 12,500. More recently—he's been out again—he said last week: 'It's why Labor in France is signing up for more nuclear. It's why Labor in Canada is signing up for more nuclear.' France and Canada don't have Labor parties. He said, 'In France, the Labor government is strongly supportive of nuclear.' The fact that they're a Labor government will come as quite a surprise to President Macron and Prime Minister Barnier. That's not how they see themselves.

They say they care about the cost of living. The Leader of the Opposition has written a personal letter to thousands of Australians about his nuclear policy, mainly older Australians—pensioners. I've had pensioners coming up to me saying it's a scam, and I said, 'Yes, it is.' But it's a real letter.

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

The member for O'Connor and the member for New England!

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

And what does that letter ask for? Cash and donations from pensioners for the Liberal Party. That's their big agenda for Australia. They're going to need a lot more than a few fundraising letters to pay for their nuclear policy. (Time expired)

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

The Prime Minister has the call.

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy is warned.

The member for O'Connor is now warned.

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

Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.