Angie Bell (Moncrieff, Liberal National Party, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Twenty-two thousand small businesses in South-East Queensland, including many businesses in my community, are currently on electricity standing offers. Instead of their electricity bills falling, as those opposite promised, they are set to increase by up to $1,700. Why is the government making the cost-of-living crisis worse for small-business owners?

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I welcome the honourable member's interest in the energy costs of small business in Queensland. I imagine she was outraged by my predecessor hiding the 12.8 per cent increase in energy prices for Queensland businesses prior to the election. I imagine she is outraged that the minister actually changed the law by signing a regulation to hide this increase, which he was told was inevitable by the Australian Energy Regulator. I am sure she shares my anger. I am sure she shares my disrespect. I am sure she shares my disdain for such an action—to be so fundamentally dishonest to Queensland small businesses.

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

The minister will pause. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order?

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 that it's very clear that all imputations of improper motives to a member are highly disorderly. We keep hearing the minister attributing improper motives to the former minister for energy. He ought not to do that. What he ought to do is answer—

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

You may resume your seat. It is not a point of order. The minister is being directly relevant regarding the energy costs and energy bills. The question was broad about businesses In South-East Queensland and their rising energy costs. The minister is being directly relevant.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, thank you very much, Mr Speaker. The honourable member well knows that the plan that we took to the election was to take energy to renewables 82 per cent by 2030, to put downward pressure on energy prices and to build the transmission network right across the country. She well knows that's what we took to the election. She also knows that that's exactly what we're doing and will continue to do.