Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Wong. How much have Australian household energy bills increased since the Albanese government was elected promising a $275 power price cut?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, $300 less as a consequence of the price relief that we put in place that you don't support.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And I hear the interjections on that side about why that's a bad idea. They really don't learn, do they? That you want to come in here and talk about cheaper energy bills after you have opposed energy price relief is really galling to Australians. You can't pretend that you care about cost of living if you're not prepared to back in the policies that are about dealing with people's cost-of-living pressures. That's the reality.

From the experts it is clear that renewables are the cheapest form of new energy, far cheaper than the nuclear fantasy that you are adopting—an expensive plan which will ensure more delays, less supply in the interim and higher costs for Australians. That's what it means.

What I would say to those opposite is that you trashed the energy system as a consequence of 22 policies in government, where 24 out of 28—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Duniam.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I raise a point of order on relevance. I was asking the minister exactly how much power prices have increased since the ill-fated promise. We haven't heard one sentence on that.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Duniam. I am happy to draw the minister back to the question, but I will also remind senators that, if you interject, the senator—whoever is answering—is entitled to take those interjections, and there were lots of interjections, which Minister Wong also addressed, which she's entitled to do. Minister Wong.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I said, there's a $300 energy bill rebate to every household and additional energy relief to small businesses. But I would say this: what we know is that under those opposite 24 out of 28 coal-fired power stations announced closures. How many people sought to enter the system? Almost zilch, if any. Do you know why? It was because your division and your inaction and your internal fights and your anti-renewables obsession made sure that the market had no certainty. It had no certainty, and—do you know what?—you're still at it.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Duniam, first supplementary?

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wonder if the minister can try and tell us whether household energy bills are going to go up or down under a re-elected Albanese Labor government.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll take the interjection from Senator Ruston, who says, 'They'll just use taxpayers' money to subsidise bills,' because she's still opposed to the bill relief. It's amazing, isn't it? They just don't learn. You're prepared to spend billions of dollars on nuclear over 20 years, but you don't want working Australians to get cost relief on their bills. What sorts of priorities does the Liberal Party have? What has happened to the Liberal Party? The Liberal Party is the party that wants to subsidise an expensive technology which will deliver in 20 years but wants to fight tooth and nail against giving $300 to Australian families and Australian households. It says something about your priorities.

We on this side are very clear. We will ensure that we continue to transform this system in accordance with the best advice and not engage in the ideological wars that you are engaged in that increase costs for Australians. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Duniam, second supplementary?

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just in the last week the Australian Energy Market Operator warned:

… there is the potential for gas supply shortfalls due to the depletion of southern storage inventories …

The operator also warned:

… the supply of gas in all or part of the east coast gas system may be inadequate to meet demand.

How will Labor's renewables-only energy plan help to plug these energy shortfalls and reduce electricity prices right now?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let's talk about what AEMO has said. Let's talk about the fact that AEMO, the Australian Energy Market Operator, has said that the lowest-cost plan for a reliable energy grid is Australia's world-leading renewables, like solar and wind, firmed with batteries, pumped hydro, flexible gas and transmission reform. That is AEMO's advice, but you don't want to listen to them. You want to go down some path that John Howard tried to go down over 20 years ago when he looked at how much a domestic nuclear industry would cost, and then prime minister Howard determined then that it would be too expensive and it would take too long.

Now Peter Dutton—here he is again!—is trying to come up with a plan that even John Howard rejected. (Time expired)