Ted O'Brien (Fairfax, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. You promised a $275 decrease in household power bills. Will you guarantee to the House that Australian families will see that $275 cut?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question, which goes to the commitment that Labor has through our Powering Australia plan. It is indeed a comprehensive plan that was fully modelled by RepuTex, who are Australia's leading energy economists. They had a look at the full suite of policies that we have, including fixing transmission in this country, bringing it into the 21st century through our plan to rewire the nation. That was in my first budget reply. And that will be the most significant element in terms of the changes that will occur. But, of course, it wasn't just something that we came up with. It's based upon the Integrated System Plan of the Australian Energy Market Operator. It's been out there for such a long period of time that, with the rise in renewable energy, you need to make sure that you can connect up to the grid so that Australians can benefit from it. But what we've got from those opposite when it comes to energy prices, of course, is—

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order, Speaker—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's about energy prices.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will take a breather. Manager of Opposition Business, remember, I told you: wait until you get the call and then you can start speaking. I give the call to the Manager of Opposition Business.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point of order is relevance. It was a very simple question: will you guarantee to the House that Australian families will see the $275 cut—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Member for Page, I don't need any assistance from the cheap seats next to me. The Prime Minister was asked a question about his commitment regarding a $275 decrease in household power. He was referring to the policy announcement.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was referring to our Powering Australia plan. I can understand how those opposite are confused by this, because we actually had a plan. Those opposite had a pamphlet. It was the 22nd pamphlet that they had.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The shadow Treasurer will cease interjecting.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have a comprehensive plan, which is backed by the Business Council of Australia, backed by the Australian Industry Group, backed by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, backed by the Clean Energy Council, backed by the Australian Conservation Foundation, backed by Greenpeace, backed by the Australian Council of Trade Unions. And what every single one of those organisations is saying is that business need the investment certainty that they haven't had for a decade—for a decade!

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leader of the Opposition, we have had one point of order about relevance; what is your point of order?

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a point of order, Speaker. This is the most tortured answer. The answer really is no.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Condense it to 'no'. That's all. You can't guarantee the $275. You've broken a promise.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting. I want to be clear on this point. There is one point of order made on relevance. I will not tolerate the standing orders being abused.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's only day 2 of question time, and it's the second-best day they'll have, because it doesn't get better. The truth is that those opposite sat on the information, knowing that energy prices would go up in July. Not only did they sit on it; they refused to tell the Australian people. They knew that that was baked into the wholesale prices, and they refused to tell them. (Time expired)