Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, it is pretty desperate, isn't it, in the face of the facts that the vast majority of the increase we have seen in electricity prices—for which there has been no assistance—has been for reasons entirely unrelated to the introduction of a price on carbon? Senator Cormann cannot even convince members of his own front bench like Malcolm Turnbull who have the temerity to tell the truth on this issue and say, 'You know what, the facts actually do not stack up with the scare campaign that the opposition is running,' and that is explicit in Senator Cormann's question. Yes, there is an impact on electricity prices as a result of a price on carbon. It is significantly less than the impact as a result of the investment in poles and wires and the significant difference is we are providing increases to the pension, family tax benefits and other assistance. (Time expired)