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

The Albanese government's No. 1 focus is easing the cost-of-living pressures for Australians. After a decade of deliberate wage stagnation and suppression under the coalition, our changes have helped deliver faster-than-expected annual real wage growth to workers while also targeting inflation. We're also taking $300 off household power bills and investing in renewables, which are the cheapest form of energy, and getting more renewables in our power system will bring prices down.

In contrast, Mr Dutton wants Australians to pay more for his risky nuclear reactors and pay more for their power. Even though we saw Senator Davey make a valiant attempt to stand up for communities opposed to reactors, they will be imposed on them anyway. These reactors cost a lot more than renewables. They take longer to build, and, at the end of it, family power bills will be even higher. We know that the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Birmingham, knows that. Over the weekend he was quoted as saying that renewables have become more cost competitive. Good on you, Senator Birmingham. You're on the right path. (Time expired)