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

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Under the Albanese Labor government, electricity prices have exploded by 39 per cent, including a 13 per cent rise over the past 12 months alone. Can the minister explain to the House how a 39 per cent increase in electricity prices can result in a $275 reduction, as you promised?

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

I thank the honourable member for his question. As the Treasurer very eloquently pointed out to the House yesterday when the inflation figures were actually released, and as the ABS itself makes crystal clear, to use its words in relation to the annual increase:

This is due to the timing of when the extended EBRF—

Energy Bill Relief Fund—

rebates were applied in some capital cities …

That's what the ABS said yesterday, and of course that's the case: the rebates are paid in different months, and that is reflected in the figures in different ways.

It's also the case that there are other reports out over the last week that the opposition has chosen not to mention, like the Australian Energy Regulator's State of the energy market report, which refers to energy prices and points out:

… Australia's coal plants are aging and increasingly costly to operate. Many require high levels of maintenance and refurbishment to keep them running. They are also prone to unplanned outages, sometimes prolonged outages, which make them increasingly unreliable.

The report said:

Heading into spring and early summer, prices remained higher than the previous year amid a higher rate of brown coal outages.

So these are the sorts of issues that the government and the energy grid are dealing with. We're dealing with the fact that, under those opposite, four gigawatts of dispatchable power left the grid and only one gigawatt came on.

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Look, there's just far too much noise for anyone's liking. I want to hear from the member for Wannon on a point of order.

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

Thanks, Speaker. It goes to relevance. The question wasn't about us on this side; it was about the 39 per cent increase in electricity prices and the $275 you promised to reduce Australians' power bills by.

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

The member for Wannon is correct. He wasn't asked about alternative policies or approaches. The minister is going to have to confine his remarks to government policy—and you can do compare and contrast, but this is not a free for all to just talk about the opposition's policies, as the balance of the answer will now be provided.

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

I was referring, of course, to the report this week of the Australian Energy Regulator about the Australian market today, which is also dealing with the impacts of four gigawatts of dispatchable power leaving the grid over the last decade. That's what the government and the Energy Market Operator and everybody involved in the energy system is dealing with. The fact of the matter is that when this side of the House has an opportunity to take a decision that puts downward pressure on energy prices, we take it—whether it's energy bill relief or whether it's to drive towards more reliable renewable energy, that's what we do. When those opposite have a choice, they embark on the most expensive form of energy, nuclear, or oppose energy bill relief, as they've done three times.

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

The Leader of the Nationals is testing my patience, so he's going to have a short spell here, otherwise he'll have a short spell outside.