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 Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The CEO of the Australian Energy Market Operator, Mr Daniel Westerman, was recently asked at a Senate inquiry if he could guarantee that electricity prices would be lower under the government's energy plans. He responded, 'I can't guarantee that; no.'

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

Senator Ayres!

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

Can the minister guarantee that the government's energy policies will lower the actual ongoing electricity bills for Australians, as Mr Albanese promised?

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

I tell you what I can guarantee. I can guarantee that energy prices under us will not include the $600 billion that you would spend on the single most expensive form of energy that there is. I can also confirm that Australian households would have been worse off if you had gotten your way and prevented the energy bill assistance that the Labor government put forward from flowing to Australian households and Australian small businesses. And I can also confirm that your $600 billion nuclear scheme will take decades to build, will add $1,200 to power bills and will provide four per cent of energy needs. The facts are, Senator, that you can come in here and talk about energy bills, but you propose more expensive energy—

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 asked about the government's policies making power prices lower, not our policies that they don't even know about.

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

Order! Senator Duniam, the minister is relevant, and I'll continue to listen carefully.

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

It is clear that there is one party working to ensure we deliver cleaner, more reliable, cheaper energy to Australians. There is one party working to ensure we assist Australians to the extent we are able with higher energy costs. And there is another party that doesn't want Australians to be assisted—another party that wants to spend $600 billion on the most expensive form of energy there is. And now they want to make a political point about energy costs.

Do you want to know why energy bills have been spiralling? Some of it is international circumstances, but, in great part, it is because you and Senator Canavan and others didn't allow Senator Birmingham and others in your party to put forward an economically responsible transformation of the energy system. You had 22 policies. (Time expired)

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

Senator Duniam, a first supplementary?

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

When pressed on why Mr Westerman could not guarantee lower power prices, he stated that the Integrated System Plan:

… doesn't refer to whether it's cheaper or more expensive for that wholesale component …

Minister, how much more do Australians have to pay for electricity to meet the government's plans for an 82 per cent renewable energy target by 2030 and also net zero emissions by 2050?

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

I'm happy to respond to that and I'm happy, in particular, to point out that net zero emissions by 2050 is actually—

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Did you watch the doco?

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

Order!

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

I'll take that interjection from Senator Antic, or was it Senator Canavan—'Did you watch the doco?' What we've noticed is that, despite the fact that Mr Dutton and the coalition are for net zero by 2050, all of those who helped kill the 22 plans are now up to it again. Senator Canavan is saying very clearly, 'Why do we remain committed to this radical net zero agenda?' Senator Matt Canavan is part of the group, along with Mr Joyce, who destroyed 22 policies that the Liberals tried to bring forward and now are trying again to walk away from net zero. That is why we are having to work to fix up your mess after 22 plans and less supply.

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Senator Canavan! I have repeatedly called you. Senator Canavan! Senator McKenzie, I am now standing. Senator Canavan, I called you three times and you completely ignored me asking you to stop. That is disrespectful and disorderly. Senator Ayres, you also interjected, and so did you, Senator McKenzie. I should not have to stand to get order in this place. Senator Duniam, a second supplementary?

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

We will try a third time to get the government to talk about their energy policies if they have any. Will the Albanese government ever deliver on its promise for an ongoing $275 average electricity bill reduction for Australian households?

The:

Order! Senator Colbeck, I was just on my feet because of the disorder in this chamber, but somehow that completely went over your head. You immediately began interjecting. I'm asking all senators, on my left and my right, not to interject.

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

First, what I can indicate to those opposite is that we will do what is most economically efficient, which is to deliver the cheapest form of energy that we can.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why did you promise it? You promised this cut.

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

Senator Birmingham!

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

Unlike you, Senator Birmingham—thank you for continuing to interject—we will help with people's energy bills in a way you refused to. You voted against cheaper energy bills. You voted against energy bill relief. Anyone who wants to understand the hypocrisy of what is being put to the government in this chamber by those opposite need only look to the votes where they voted to ensure that Australians did not get energy bill relief on their bills. That is what Mr Dutton voted against here and in the other place. Now they want to pretend that they care about cheap energy. (Time expired)