Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Hansard source

The scheme powers more than half a million houses across the east coast of Australia. It's also this government that has committed to the Snowy 2.0 project, which will help to reduce the volatility of electricity prices and reduce the average price of power, as it takes advantage of the low prices during the day and brings down prices at the those peak times, particularly in January and in the evening when the sun goes down. This, combined with other policies, including the default market offer and the retailer reliability obligation, is helping to bring power prices down and put power back into the hands of consumers.

I welcome reports this week that the opposition will now support the government's big-stick legislation to back consumers against the unacceptable and unsustainable practices that the ACCC has highlighted.

On this side we know that, for 75 years, it's been the Liberal Party that has supported lower, more affordable power prices, whilst Labor governments—and the opposition—have supported reckless targets and carbon taxes. Indeed, we've seen them in open hostility in recent days over their energy and carbon policies. Only this side of the House has a plan to deliver affordable, reliable power, meeting our emissions obligations and keeping a strong economy.

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