Terry Young (Longman, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Taipan Hydraulic Hose Systems is a proud family business in my electorate of Longman which has been in business for over 30 years. The power bill that owner Allan paid this month surged by 47½ per cent compared to what he paid for the same period in November 2022. When will power prices come down?

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. It's a very important one on a real issue—energy prices in this country—which is why I and this government have focused like a laser on energy prices and will continue to. It's why we've delivered three rounds of energy bill relief—opposed by those opposite. It's why we're continuing to help Australian households and businesses reduce their bills—in many instances, for nothing—with our cheaper home batteries policy. I'm pleased—it's been a while—to inform the House that 136,999 Australian households and small businesses have installed a cheaper home battery with 2.9 gigawatt hours worth of storage. All this is practical action to help reduce bills.

The good news is what reduces bills and improves reliability and reduces emissions are all the same thing—that's more renewables backed by gas and storage. That's why we are—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

I'm happy to have a debate about energy prices. I welcome it because this side of the House has a plan to help energy prices. Those opposite announced a plan during the break to push prices up, because we know that abandoning the zero will push prices up. That's what the Treasury tells us. That's what the International Energy Agency tells us. That's what every expert tells us. Those opposite want to sweat the coal assets for longer. They are the most unreliable part of our energy system and the most expensive, so bring on a debate about energy prices.

David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How's that going, Chris?

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

The 136,000 batteries—that's how it is going! They're going great, and they will continue to go strongly, because Australian households and Australian businesses know that what's good for your pocket is good for the planet. It's true of households. It's true of businesses. It's true of countries. It's true of the planet, and that's the approach of this government. The Leader of the Opposition denies it. She denies that renewable energy is the cheapest form of energy. They can deny it; we'll continue to implement it, and we very much welcome this debate.

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

I think we know what's happening soon. The Leader of the Nationals has had a really good go, and he's agreeing with me now, so that also is consenting that he will now remain silent for the remainder of question time.

Honourable members interjecting—

He can give it a go and see how he goes.