Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Labor promised Australians that their bills would fall by $275 in 2025. Is the minister aware that it is now 2025 and that electricity bills are up by nearly 40 per cent? Why did the minister mislead Australians?

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

The member for Spence is warned.

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

Yes, I am aware it is 2025. I'm not entirely sure the National Party is. I'm also aware that there are considerable pressures in our energy system, as there are around the world. I'm aware that the AEMO quarterly energy dynamics report released today, which is a welcome progress report, shows wholesale prices are down 27 per cent year on year and 38 per cent quarter on quarter. I see this as good progress with much more to do. It is no coincidence that the quarterly report, which showed a 38 per cent reduction in wholesale prices, also shows the highest renewable penetration for that quarter in Australian history. This is a sign of progress.

We have never said that there isn't a lot more to do. We haven't said that there aren't pressures in the system. This is why we've introduced three rounds of energy bill relief which were opposed by those opposite.

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

The member for Page is now warned.

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

The difference between the two parties in this House—the government and the opposition—is that we recognise the need to ensure that we have more of the most reliable and cheapest form of energy, which is renewables, and those opposite are opposed to it.