Ralph Babet (Victoria, United Australia Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator McAllister. Minister Bowen recently stated that electricity prices fell 17.9 per cent in the 12 months to August. He said, 'It is a good step forward and an indication that our reliable renewables energy plan is working.' He quoted the ABS August CPI indicator, stating that this was 'the largest annual fall for electricity on record'. He neglected to repeat the next sentence from that report, which states, 'The combined impact of Commonwealth state and territory rebates drove the annual fall in electricity prices.' Has Minister Bowen misled the Australian people on the underlying cause of reduced electricity bills?