Tom French (Moore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The cost of living remains the dominant issue in conversations with households across the country. Energy bills are part of that pressure. Families feel it across Australia. The same is true in my electorate of Moore. From Karrinyup through to Duncraig, Sorrento, Hillarys and Mullaloo, households are conscious of electricity costs and what they mean for the weekly budget. Electricity is not a discretionary expense. It powers lights, refrigeration, heating, cooling and communication. Reliable and affordable power is therefore essential.

When we talk about household energy policy, it is important to place the discussion in the broader economic context. When this government came to office, the economic starting point was challenging. We inherited significant deficits, a trillion dollars of debt, high inflation and falling real wages. Since then, the focus has been on stabilising the economy while delivering responsible cost-of-living relief. The most recent national accounts show the Australian economy growing at 2.6 per cent through the year. That is the strongest pace of growth in almost three years and is faster than every major advanced economy. Importantly, that growth is being driven by the private sector, not public spending. That matters because cost-of-living relief must be delivered without adding to inflation. Australia is facing global uncertainty, but the economic data shows the country is approaching those challenges from a position of strength. Strong economic management creates the capacity to deliver practical relief to households.

One of the most important improvements in the economy has been the recovery in household incomes. Real disposable income per person has increased by around two per cent over the past year, reversing the decline that occurred earlier. Wage growth has contributed to that improvement. Minimum and award wages have increased significantly in recent years. Employment growth has been strong. Since this government came to office, more than 1.2 million jobs have been created. Unemployment remains low, and workforce participation is close to record levels. In practical terms, the recovery in household living standards is being driven by people working and earning.

Alongside rising wages, the government has delivered tax relief. Every Australian taxpayer has received a tax cut, with further reductions to commence in the coming financial year. These measures increase take-home pay and help households manage cost pressures. They sit alongside policies designed to reduce everyday expenses. For example, medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme are now capped at $25 or less. That is the largest reduction in medicines in the history of the PBS and will save Australians hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Investments in Medicare, including expanded bulk-billing and urgent care clinics, also reduce the financial burden on families.

Within that broader cost-of-living framework, household energy measures play a specific role. Unlike temporary payments, energy efficiency upgrades and rooftop solar can reduce electricity bills permanently. Australia now has one of the highest rates of rooftop solar adoption in the world. Millions of households have installed solar panels as a way of managing their power bills. Across many suburbs in metropolitan Perth, including communities throughout Moore, solar panels are now a common feature of rooftops. Households have adopted these technologies because they make economic sense. They reduce electricity consumption from the grid and lower long-term costs.

The next stage of this development is the expansion of household battery storage. The government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program is designed to support this transition. The program is expected to expand to around $7.2 billion over four years, helping households, small businesses and community organisations reduce their electricity bills. It is expected to support the installation of more than two million batteries by 2030, delivering approximately 40 gigawatt hours of storage capacity. Household batteries store solar energy generated during the day and make it available when demand increases. This not only helps households manage their bills but also strengthens the electricity system itself.

See this speech in context