Melissa McIntosh (Lindsay, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy Affordability) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Given that the Albanese Labor government is refusing to release its 2035 emissions reduction target before the next election, can the government guarantee that Australians will not face an increase in energy prices as a result of Labor's secret target?

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

I'm not sure if everyone has forgotten how question time should operate, but that was an example of how it shouldn't be conducted. We'll start strong this week. The member for Lindsay will begin her question again, and there won't be commentary, there won't be remarks and there won't be add-ons. I couldn't hear what she was saying, and she has earnt the right to ask her question in silence.

Melissa McIntosh (Lindsay, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy Affordability) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Given that the Albanese Labor government is refusing to release its 2035 emissions reduction target before the next election, can the government guarantee that Australians will not face an increase in energy prices as a result of Labor's secret target?

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question. Since coming to government, what this government has understood is that the cheapest form of energy today is renewable energy. That is why we have increased renewables in the grid by 25 per cent. In doing so, we are on target to both put downward pressure on energy prices and meet our emissions reduction target by 2030.

One thing that I can absolutely guarantee is that the $600 billion plan that the Leader of the Opposition has to introduce nuclear power into Australia's electricity grid will absolutely increase energy prices. What this man is doing and what those opposite are doing is doubling down on the single most expensive form of electricity which exists in the world today. What we see is the prospect of households paying $1,200 a year more by virtue of the—

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

A point of order on relevance, it was a very tight question—can the government guarantee that Australians will not face an increase in energy prices as a result of Labor's secret target? If the Acting Prime Minister cannot give that guarantee, he should sit down. What he's saying now is not relevant.

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

The Acting Prime Minister is able to compare and contrast to some degree, but, for the remainder 1 minute and 50 seconds, he won't simply be able to talk about the opposition's policy, because he wasn't asked about alternative approaches. He can do some compare and contrast, but I'm going to draw him back to the question.

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We face the prospect of what policies are on offer and what polices we reject. One of the critical policies which has been put forward by those opposite is in respect of nuclear power, and that is a policy that we will not pursue because we will be focused on increasing more renewables into the grid. The prospect that those opposite are suggesting, which will not see any new electricity in the grid for many years to come and, and its peak, will represent about four per cent of the energy grid, is a prospect we will completely reject.

This government, each and every day, has been focused on energy bills for the Australian people. That's why we provided energy relief to every household around the country. We did so in the face of opposition from this man and did so in the face of opposition from those opposite. I can guarantee to the honourable member that, in the Albanese government, there is a government which will be focused each and every day on reducing the energy prices and putting downward pressure on the energy prices of Australian households.

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

The member for Page will cease interjecting so I can hear from the member for Swan.