Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Families will be forced to pay more this Christmas for their snacks like Kettle Chips, Cheezels, and CC's because energy costs for manufacturer Snack Brands Australia, based in your electorate, Minister, have tripled from $3 million to $9 million. Why are families being forced to pay for this Prime Minister's broken promises to cut power prices?

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

I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for her question. I am very aware of the issue with Snack Brands, which is in my electorate. I am aware that they were a customer of Weston, which went broke in May. I am aware they were then covered by the roller event and then were transferred to another provider who has since made further arrangements. And I'm aware of the gas prices they are being charged at the moment, so I'm fully aware of these issues. I am also aware of the issue they are having at their proposed Orchard Hills facility on the border of the electorate of Lindsay and my electorate, which the AER is involved as well.

I'm also aware of the gas prices that industry is having to pay across-the-board and that's why we are making it clear that we will act on gas prices. Because, as the representative in this House of the biggest industrial estate in the southern hemisphere, I know about the impact of these issues. That's why the Prime Minister, the Treasurer, the industry minister, the resources minister and I have made it crystal clear that we will not do what the previous government did and pretend it wasn't happening and change the law to hide price rises. What we will do is be straight with the Australian people and act.

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

The Minister for Resources and the member for Groom will cease interjecting.