House debates Questions without Notice

Cheaper Home Batteries Program

Wednesday, 9 September 2026 House of Representatives

Chris Bowen

Chris Bowen McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy

2:27 pm

I think every Australian of reasonableness and good faith knows that every electrical instrument, every electrical application, comes with risk. The television has risk. An oven has risk. Every electrical item has risk. Cars have risks. That's why you have strict regulation and enforcement and compliance. That's why the Clean Energy Regulator, with other bodies and state bodies, regulates the installation of cheaper home batteries.

I note that the Clean Energy Regulator has appeared before Senate estimates on multiple occasions since the Cheaper Home Batteries Program was introduced. Do you know how many times the opposition has asked the Clean Energy Regulator a question at Senate estimates? The answer is zero—zero. They haven't bothered to ask them.

Now, the cheaper home batteries scheme is being implemented by the government but installed by the private sector—more than 12,000 installers across the country. I've got to say these are highly credentialed, well-qualified, hardworking Australians, and they do not need to be traduced by the member for Wannon or anyone else. I don't know why the opposition is so opposed to small businesses who are committing no crime other than helping Australians reduce their bills to zero. These Aussie businesses, who are growing, who are working day and night and on weekends, deserve better than to be defamed and traduced by the member for Wannon, who is a disgrace.

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