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

My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. The Albanese Labor government has claimed that its renewables-only plan would cost $122 billion, but the real price tag is over $642 billion. That's more than five times as expensive. Why is this weak and incompetent Labor government hiding the true cost from Australian families, who will have to foot the bill for its renewables-only plan?

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

Order! The Treasurer will cease interjecting. The Minister for Infrastructure and the Minister for the Environment shall join him in ceasing or otherwise will be warned.

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

I thank the member for his question, but I definitely do not accept the assertions that are contained in the body of that question. It is clear in the world today, whether those opposite understand it or not, that the cheapest form of electricity is renewable electricity. That's why we have got the renewables sector going again—something that those opposite did their best to absolutely crush and, in the process of which, were doing everything they could to see upward pressure on energy prices in this country.

But we have got investment in renewables going again, such that there is a 25 per cent increase in the grid. We are doing that in terms of putting downward pressure on energy prices. What those opposite have to offer is a $600 billion nuclear plan which will cost Australian households an additional $1,200 a year, because it is understood around the world to be the single most expensive form of energy today. And there is no prospect of that energy coming onto the grid for years and years to come, and, when it does, it will represent about four per cent of the electricity grid.

So, that is what is being offered by those opposite. Literally every one of those on the other side has their head stuck in the sand. They refuse to acknowledge modernity in terms of walking down the path of renewable energy. They are busily trying to discover bronze, and in the process—

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

The member for Fairfax on a point of order.

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

The point of order is on relevance. The question went to the Acting Prime Minister pointing out the difference between their claim of a $122 billion cost and the real cost of $642 billion. And the question was: why are they hiding this true cost from Australian families, who'll have to pay—

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

Resume your seat.

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

He hasn't answered that question.

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

The Acting Prime Minister—I listened carefully—at the beginning said that he rejected the assertions in the question. So, he obviously doesn't agree with the proposition, and he's outlining why he's disagreeing with it. He needs to stay on the topic. As I've warned him already, he can't veer into alternative policies for the entire answer. But if he's disagreeing with what you're suggesting, he's going to outline to the House why that is the case.

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

This government is committed to having our nation climb the technological ladder and face modernity by having a transition to net zero emissions by 2050 and having more renewables in the grid in a way that is completely firmed. That's what we are doing, because that is what every responsible economy on the planet is doing. The only other option that you hear in the developed world is—literally—from those opposite, talking about establishing a civil nuclear industry from scratch at an enormous cost to Australian households, and that is a policy we will not pursue.