Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator McDonald, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) during question time on 31 July 2023, the Minister for Finance (Senator Gallagher) stated that 'the example you give in relation to the ACT, which went to 100% renewable energy years ago, when I was still in the assembly, actually saw their bills go down this year because they are using a renewable energy mix which is often cheaper than other sources of energy', and

(ii) the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission and ActewAGL have indicated that electricity and gas prices in the ACT are going up by 4.15% and 14% this year, respectively; and

(b) requires the Minister for Finance to attend the Senate at the conclusion of motions to take note of answers on Tuesday, 8 August 2023, to provide an explanation of not more than 10 minutes, clarifying the inconsistency between her statement to the chamber on 31 July 2023 and published information on ACT energy prices, and:

(i) any senator may move to take note of the explanation, and

(ii) any such motion may be debated for no longer than 30 minutes, shall have precedence over all other business until determined, and senators may speak to the motion for not more than 5 minutes each.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Residents and businesses in the ACT have benefited from the ACT government's responsible and forward-thinking investments in renewable energy. The ACT's Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission has confirmed a decline of 2.7 per cent in real terms from 1 July 2023 for regulated tariffs. It's important to note the decline in real prices is not inclusive of the Albanese government's energy bill relief of $175 for households and $325 for small business—another targeted cost-of-living measure wilfully opposed by those opposite. Those prudent decisions by the ACT Labor government have shielded both residents and businesses in the ACT from price volatility that has marred the National Electricity Market following a decade of energy policy failures under the previous coalition government.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Greens will be opposing this motion, firstly, because it's not factually true and, secondly, because it's an attack on the achievement of 100 per cent renewables. What the ACT experience shows is that abundant clean energy is deflationary. It helps our planet and our hip pockets. Renewables bring down prices. Coal, oil and gas are expensive, and prices are held hostage to the geostrategic desires of the leaders of petro-states. This parliament should celebrate the one jurisdiction that has actually lowered energy prices both in real and nominal terms, and it's the same jurisdiction that has 100 per cent renewable energy and it's the one jurisdiction with a Greens-Labor government in shared power.

Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question before the Senate is that the motion standing in the name of Senator McDonald regarding the attendance by a minister and moved by Senator Cadell be agreed to.