Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Williams for his question. The government has been up-front about the carbon price and electricity prices, unlike those opposite. Treasury modelling found that the carbon price would increase household electricity prices by 10 per cent—$3.30 per week on average. The electricity regulator determinations have in fact confirmed this. In some cases the carbon impact has been less than Treasury's estimates. The impact is also confirmed as the CPI figures continue to be reported by the ABS. To meet the impact, the government provided $10.10 per week, on average, to households. But the main driver—which the opposition do not acknowledge—of electricity prices in recent years has been the cost of electricity networks, most of which are owned by state governments. It is important to establish these facts, Senator Williams, because those opposite are engaged in a cowardly campaign of frightening pensioners and frightening businesses about this issue. They have misled people about the assistance for small business. They have misled people about the strength of our economy. It has been a farce when you look at some of the outrageous statements the opposition have made, particularly those from their leader, who talked about wrecking balls, cobra strikes, python squeezes, dogs of taxes and octopus embraces as he slid down that hill. It is time that the opposition leader displayed some integrity in this place and put this discredited scare campaign out of its misery. (Time expired)