Russell Matheson (Macarthur, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment. Will the minister inform the House of the savings that have been passed on to families and businesses of New South Wales and the ACT since the government scrapped the world's biggest carbon tax? Are there any plans to take away these savings?

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to thank the member for Macarthur, who is concerned not only about the cost of living for families; but also a great champion of and lover of the environment. Today the Green Army starts. The Green Army is in the field today, and that means that the Georges River recovery is part of the plan. I am not sure though that they love the environment on that side of the House, because after 600 questions I am still waiting, Bill—600 questions and not one on the environment. Most importantly—

Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. It has been pointed out many, many times about members not referring to members by their proper titles and I would like you to ask him to refrain from doing that.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will refer to members by their correct titles.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Coming from Mensa, I take that!

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. You gave the minister an instruction, a ruling. He treated it with contempt by then not referring to another member not by their title. He has treated the member for McEwen, and you, Madam Speaker, with contempt.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for McMahon for his intervention, but I think we can manage it. The minister will refrain from referring to members by anything other than their correct titles.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, if the term Mensa in any way offends or confuses, I am very happy to withdraw. Let me make this point: as of today, I can inform the House that AGL has announced to customers—

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Gorton is warned.

that they not only have they reduced their bills by the full amount of the carbon tax in terms of electricity but also are providing refunds. I want to read to the House what AGL has sent to customers: 'For those customers where we issued a bill between 1 July 2014 and 1 September 2014, you will receive a credit. This credit will appear on your next bill issued after 29 September 2014.'

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

The member for Isaacs is warned.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For people in New South Wales and the ACT, what does that mean? On their residential bills for AGL it means a 7.8 per cent saving; for those customers of Energy Australia, it means an 8.9 per cent saving on their electricity bill; or those customers of Simply Energy, a 10 per cent reduction in their electricity bills; in the ACT—about which the member also asked—for Energy Australia residents, it will be an 11 per cent reduction in their electricity bills; and for Origin Energy customers, an 11.5 per cent reduction in their electricity bills.

When AGL also wrote to Victorian customers today—

Mr Perrett interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Moreton—that is the last time.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

what they said is this: 'We estimate that the average AGL small business gas customer in Victoria will save 10.3 per cent off their bills backdated to 1 July 2014. We estimate that the average AGL small business electricity customer in Victoria will save 9.7 per cent.'

So whether it is gas, whether it is electricity, whether it is Victoria, whether it is the ACT or whether it is New South Wales those prices are coming down. There is an alternative plan: the Leader of the Opposition wants to reintroduce the carbon tax. It is their policy, it is their plan, it is their goal and it is their sacred objective. And that will mean that electricity prices will go back up. Electricity prices will rise. He talks about slugging Australian families—he is the slugger.