Alicia Payne (Canberra, 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 helping families to lower their energy bills, and what policies would make families worse off?

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. Of course, the Albanese government is delivering $300 in bill relief to every single Australian household. Those opposite disparage it and they oppose it, but we know it makes a meaningful difference. But we know there's a lot more to do. We know we need more energy in the system. The House has heard me say before that over the decade of the coalition government we saw four gigawatts of dispatchable power leave our grid, and that left us very exposed.

Today, for the first time, in the first sitting day of 2025, I can tell the House that, unlike the opposition, which saw four gigawatts leave the grid over their decade, over the last three years we have seen four gigawatts of dispatchable energy enter grid—off under them; on under us—and that's in addition to 15 gigawatts of renewable energy. We know that we need more electricity for more reliability at lower prices.

The member asked me what policies might see bills go up and, to be fair, the opposition has had some pretty big news as well. Just before Christmas, after a long wait, we saw their final nuclear policy. I wish I could tell the House that it was worth the wait, but I'm afraid I have to tell the House that it was an absolute Barry Crocker of a costings document. First, in order to pretend that nuclear is cheaper, they had to assume a smaller economy. They actually said: 'We think the economy will be $4 trillion smaller by 2050.' Well done! Congratulations! I wish we'd thought of that. Less electricity costs less—that's their entire policy. If you produce 40 per cent less electricity, maybe it's around 40 per cent cheaper. I don't know how those geniuses came up with that.

But then there are other problems. The Leader of the Opposition was out at his little interview on Sunday, which went so well. He was asked about energy prices and he said:

… a 44 per cent reduction in the model of delivering an energy system, you would expect a 44 per cent reduction, or of that order, being passed through in energy bill relief.

So he says that that's going to come off bills. There's been some response to that. Dr Dylan McConnell said in response that this was a 'complete misunderstanding' of the coalition's own policy. He said: 'He has no idea what he is talking about.' That's what the experts say.

We know that their policy will cost $600 billion, which will have to paid for. It will be paid for by bills, and by cuts to services as well. There will $600 billion in cuts to pay for nuclear. That is $600 billion that Australians will pay for. That's why the Australian people can say that they will very clearly be worse off under Dutton.

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

Order, the minister will refer to members by their correct titles.

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

My question goes to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister provide a single example of an Australian family that has received a $275 cut to their power bill, as was promised before the last election nearly 100 times?

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

Order, members on my right and the Minister of Housing. The Minister for the Environment and Water is warned.

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

I note that all Australian households, including that of the honourable member, got $300 as a direct result of our government's policy.

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

The Prime Minister has concluded his answer. The member for Fairfax, order! The member for Fairfax cannot simply rise and start yelling across the chamber.