Ash Ambihaipahar (Barton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

As someone who's worked on the frontline of community support at St Vincent de Paul Society and someone deeply connected to the people of Barton, I see firsthand the pressures that Australians are carrying. Right now, the cost of living is the No. 1 concern for Australians and across the globe. We on this side of the chamber are not ignorant to the energy bills being high, and we are fixing this energy bin fire that we inherited from those opposite. Those opposite left Australians with an energy system that was fragile, outdated and vulnerable to global shocks. They walked away from renewable investment and refused to build a modern grid. And now, as history repeats itself, those opposite stand here pretending they have a plan. Let's be clear. Their plan is nuclear energy—the most expensive, slowest, riskiest and least pragmatic option available—a plan that will do nothing to help families here in Australia. The truth is simple. In times like these, people don't need slogans. They don't need a scare campaign. We are addressing the cost of electricity across all levels, such as with retail reforms to make sure Australians get the best possible deal and making sure more Australians can bring down the bills for good with more access to rooftop solar and cheaper home batteries, as well as better energy efficiency options.

The Australian people need a government—a steady one, a practical one, a responsible one—on their side and that is what this Albanese Labor government is delivering. While those across the chamber point their fingers, we on this side of the chamber are getting on with the job. Since 2022, the wholesale electricity prices are coming down. The independent Australian Energy Market Commission forecast that prices will decline to 2030 as more renewables enter the grid. This is something we are proud of and is important also for our large-scale consumers like manufacturers and smelters.

From next year, the Australian Energy Market Commission will implement new rules that will stop sneaky price hikes, preventing retailers from increasing prices more than once a year. We know electricity retailers are the primary buyers of the Australian wholesale electricity market, purchasing power from generators and reselling it to households and businesses. The new rules will also prevent customers from being charged more than the standing offer price if their initial low-cost offer changes or expires. Furthermore, there will be a ban on excessive retailer charges like late payment fees for all retail contracts and will ensure all consumers will be entitled to a fee-free payment method. The new rules will ensure vulnerable Australians are receiving the best offer from their retailer, placing a stronger onus on retailers to assist hardship customers.

While the Albanese Labor government has taken strong action to provide energy bill relief to Australian households and businesses, those opposite have opposed this relief at every step. We have provided three rounds of energy bill relief to homes and small businesses to take that sting out of the bills, while doing the overall reform work to bring down bills for good. We also acted to cap coal and gas prices, shielding Aussies from the worst of the global energy crisis.

Recent ACCC data shows some 80 per cent of households could be paying less on a different deal. The government's energy.gov.au website and the AER's Energy Made Easy website can help bill payers find their cheapest plan. For the people that came to Vinnie's and needed assistance with their electricity bills, the main thing that the Vinnie's team members did was look at their electricity plan to see if the person was on the cheapest plan available. Like many other amazing organisations, like the Salvos and Mission Australia, organisations like these have been advocating to ensure people are getting the best electricity deal possible. So rather than the member for Wannon submitting motions as such, how about advocating for constituents on seeking reviews of energy plans and guiding them to get the support they need.

Australians deserve a government that shows up every single day. They deserve leadership that recognises that energy is not just about power bills; it's absolutely about dignity, opportunity and security. They deserve a government that listens, works tirelessly and takes responsibility. This Labor government does exactly that. We are lowering the bills, modernising our grid, protecting our consumers and absolutely building a better future where Australians can rely on clean affordable energy.

See this speech in context