Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Right now, every Australian family knows that cost of living is front and centre, and it is front and centre for the Albanese Labor government too. We know that one of the points of pressure on household budgets is the power bill, and that's why, instead of just talking about it and fearmongering about it, the Albanese Labor government has made energy bill relief a top priority. We have delivered three rounds of direct relief. That's $75 deducted from your bill each quarter. Go and have a look at the black print on your bill. It shows that we're trying to help, because we know that this is an issue for you.

In addition to that, we've acted to cap gas and energy prices, and now we're going to go even further in helping you with your household bill by taking another $150 straight off your power bill—and it'll be written there for you to see—so that we honour our commitment to you, because, when families are doing it tough, we in the Labor Party and in the Albanese Labor government understand that it's time for us to take responsibility and to step in and help. What we're doing is real, practical support, and it's also sound economic management. We want to provide relief to you while keeping downward pressure on inflation.

The reality is that those opposite talk a big game on economics but, when Peter Dutton and his team last left office, inflation had a six in front of it and interest rates were climbing. Now, under the Albanese Labor governments responsible economic management, inflation has a two in front of it and, thankfully, interest rates are falling. While we're focused on supporting Australians, what's Mr Dutton doing? Well, let's be clear. He stood in the way. He said no. He opposed the $300 energy bill relief that we put in place to help you, and, instead of a real plan, he has cooked up a reckless $600 billion—with a 'b'—nuclear scheme, or fantasy. Really, that's what it is; it's a fantasy so costly that he will have to cut Medicare and slash essential services to pay for it. Let's be clear. Peter Dutton's cuts mean you pay.

What's worse is that Mr Dutton's desire to go nuclear won't deliver. Mr Dutton's own modelling shows that his nuclear gamble won't lower bills. It'll lock in more of the expensive, ageing coal plants already pushing up our prices. The Australian Energy Regulator has made it clear. Coal plants break down, especially ageing ones, and that's what we've got in Australia. Transmission bottlenecks drove 23 high-price events in just the last quarter, because what's really intermittent in our system now is our ageing coal fired power plants. They're past their use-by date.

We're focused on the future, and that's why, in contrast to Mr Dutton, every step we've taken has been to expand renewables and put downward pressure on prices. We did that in 2022. It was true then and it's true now, and that's why we're reforming the whole electricity system to make it easier for Australians to switch to better energy deals, remove excessive fees and ensure everyone gets the concessions that they are entitled to.

Last week's default market offer highlighted the urgency of this task, which we are taking seriously, but it also showed that competition is working. Plans up to 25 per cent cheaper than the benchmark are out there, and we want every family to check that they are getting the best deal. Visit the Energy Made Easy website. Don't leave money on the table for the energy providers; keep it in your family's income and in your own budget. Let me be clear, Australians face a real choice: a government that's honest and that backs them in tough times, or Peter Dutton, whose cuts you will pay for. Don't take the risk.