Leon Rebello (McPherson, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am delighted to speak on the motion moved by the member for Wannon, the shadow minister for energy and emissions reduction, but I'm also concerned. I'm concerned because what we're seeing on the other side is a continual misunderstanding of how bad this situation is. Once again, Australians across the country are facing increased energy bills. Electricity costs rose 32.2 per cent in the 12 months to January 2026, which is an increase from a 21.5 per cent rise in the 12 months to December 2025. What does that mean? It means that families across my electorate—from Burleigh to Bilinga, to Currumbin, to Tugun and to Mudgeeraba—are all having to pay for the consequences of this government's failures when it comes to energy policy.

I've been listening to some of the contributions of those opposite. I'll start by responding to the contribution of the member for Forde, who spoke about the fact that we, on this side of the parliament, are going through some sort of ideological crusade. Well, I think the average person watching will look at this government's endless pursuit of renewables and really question the member for Forde as to whether it's this side of the chamber that's going through an ideological crusade or the government. He also spoke about the fact that the direction that Chris Bowen, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, is taking our country in is going to result in material wealth beyond our imagination. That is not the experience of people across my electorate. That is not the experience of people across Queensland or people across this country.

The latest quarterly update of Australia's National Greenhouse Gas Inventory showed us that, despite the billions of taxpayer dollars spent by the Albanese government, our emission reductions have basically flatlined. The figures are also proof that Chris Bowen won't meet his 2030 emissions reduction target of 43 per cent below the 2005 base year. So for those opposite to criticise us not only for calling out this energy minister and calling out this government but for being upfront and honest with the Australian people about where we're at and where we're going as a country in relation to energy policy is quite frankly misleading to the Australian people, and that concept of misleading has continued throughout the course of this government.

We saw, time and time again, that Australians were promised a $275 cut to their power bills by last Christmas and that they would be $378 lower by 2030. But what have we actually seen? We're paying up to $1,300 more for our energy costs. We've seen that, instead of the lower energy costs that were promised by this government, Australians are now paying more due to the policies of this government.

Now, when the coalition left office emissions were at 27.3 per cent, and now they stand at 27.4 per cent below the baseline of 2005. It is so clear that this government has no idea about what the consequences are of what it is doing and where it is taking this country. It is high time that Chris Bowen is honest with the Australian public. It is high time that the Minister for Climate Change and Energy is honest with the Australian public and that he actually details how much this government's energy and emissions reduction policies are costing the Australian taxpayer.

Across this country, in all directions, Australians are paying for this government's failures. And it's not just the individuals; it's the businesses. I've had the opportunity and the privilege of speaking to a number of businesses in my electorate this week, including one quite distressed business owner in Coolangatta earlier this week. They are the front face of this energy crisis, and those are the people who expect that their representatives in this place, including myself, speak up and speak out about a government that is incompetent in managing our energy policy and a minister at its helm who has no idea about where he's taking this country. Madam Speaker Scrymgour, I say to you that Australia is struggling, Australians are struggling and energy policy is something that must be addressed by this government.

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