Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Minister, do you still stand by your government's commitment to cut power bills by $275 by the end of the year?

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

The honourable member refers to modelling done in 2021, which we took to the Australian people in 2022. The Australian people also had a chance to have their say in 2025 on the matter of competing plans for energy prices. We accept that judgement of the people. We accept it modestly, the Australian people's judgement on 3 May. Perhaps the Australian people looked at the fact that energy prices have fallen, as I just said, by 6.2 per cent in the year just gone. They would know that that wasn't inevitable. Prices would have been 16.6 per cent higher if the honourable member had had his way and energy bill relief had not applied. That was a key difference.

They also know that the opposition went to the election with a very significant plan. We've always recognised that it has a very significant plan on energy. The Australian people passed judgement on that. They knew that that plan would lead to higher energy bills—

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

Order. The minister will pause so the member for Wannon can make his point of order.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My point goes to relevance. The question was a very simple, straightforward one—do you stand by your government's commitment? That's what the Australian people would like to hear answered.

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

Resume your seat. The minister was not asked about alternative approaches. He wasn't asked about the opposition. I'm going to draw him back to the question that he was asked. He can talk about the question. He was asked about government policy, but, if he continues on with the opposition, I shall sit him down.

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

I was asked if we stand by things, and we do stand by our policy to reduce energy prices by introducing the cheapest form of energy, which is renewable, and rejecting plans to introduce the most expensive form of energy. We stand by the election commitment we made in the election just gone to deliver cheaper home batteries for people, and that is a policy which is being delivered and taken up by the Australian people with great enthusiasm. The Australian people rejected those alternatives and gave this government a mandate to keep going.