House debates Questions without Notice

Cost of Living

Thursday, 9 February 2023 House of Representatives

Henry Pike

Henry Pike Bowman, Liberal National Party

2:49 pm

My question is to the Prime Minister. Brendan in my electorate of Bowman runs a shed-building business. In October last year his quarterly energy bill was just $400. In January this year his bill had more than doubled to $838, despite his monthly usage having gone down. Prime Minister, why do Australian families and small businesses always pay more under Labor?

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

The member for Lyons will cease interjecting.

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister

2:50 pm

I thank the member for Bowman for his question, and I hope he tells Brendan that he voted against helping him. I hope he tells Brendan. I hope he says: 'Sorry, Brendan. Sorry about that, mate, but I had to put politics first.' I hope that's what he tells Brendan.

In other places, such as the National Cabinet—

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

The member for Groom is warned.

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister

this was an issue on which adults sat around and worked through the complex issues that are there as a result of the global issues that are arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Opposition members interjecting—

I hear interjections about supply. I hope that the member for Bowman also tells Brendan that four gigs left the system and one gig came in. That's why, on their watch—I don't blame the member for Bowman, because he wasn't there. His esteemed predecessor occupied that seat. I hope he also says that supply, when it comes to a new gas project, a new power station of any sort whatsoever, powered by anything you can think of—if you think that can go from idea, to planning approval, to financing, to construction and to delivery in terms of supply—

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

The member for Groom is on a warning.

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister

you are showing how not real you are. You had something real before you last December, and you voted against it.