Alison Penfold (Lyne, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor's net zero mandate is failing Australians. Electricity prices are up 39 per cent, gas prices up 46 per cent, real wages have dropped to 2011 levels and manufacturing is retreating or seeking bailouts to survive. Over 7,000 direct jobs in heavy industry have been lost since 2020 and 73,000 more are at risk, like those at Tomago. Meanwhile, there are thousands of wind turbines, millions of solar panels and kilometres of new transmission lines popping up all over rural and forested landscapes. We've lost 7.2 million hectares of farmland as our farmers and rural industries are made to do the heavy lifting. Australia has cut emissions by 24 per cent since 2005, yet like countries have cut them by only 14 per cent. The cost of Labor's reckless renewables rollout is at least $1.32 trillion, a cost we each bear. And all this is for a contribution to global emissions of just one per cent.

Our energy system can be cheaper, better and fairer. We can put Australians first by putting lower energy prices first. We can do this by unleashing all of our energy sources, including coal, gas, nuclear and renewables, and using technology to abate carbon. We can take practical action our way to protect and enhance the environment.