Garth Hamilton (Groom, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Energy Security and Affordability) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Will the minister just tell Australians how much Labor's secret Capacity Investment Scheme is costing taxpayers?

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

I thank the member for the question, and I recognise Maddison from McMahon, who is with us in the gallery today. The Capacity Investment Scheme is treated in the budget in a very similar way—in fact, in an identical way—to previous government programs of a similar nature, including programs that were administered by the then minister for energy, the Underwriting New Generation Investments program, the Snowy 2.0 business case that the member for Hume was responsible for, changes to the Clean Energy Regulator that the member for Wannon was responsible for and the Australian Naval Infrastructure that the member for Wannon was responsible for, all of which are noted as commercial in confidence in budget measures No. 2.

The point is that these projects that are supported by the Capacity Investment Scheme are all designed to bring more of the cheapest form of energy to the availability of Australians, a fact that was recognised—credit where it's due—by the member for Wannon last week. He issued a press release, and I must say I was touched. I don't get emotional much these days, but I was touched. It says the shadow minister for energy and emissions reduction, Dan Tehan, said Labor's net zero agenda was delivering the cheap and affordable energy Australia requires. It's so eloquent! I was very moved to read it.

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

The member for Page, on a point of order.

Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) | Link to this | Hansard source

The point of order is on relevance. The minister now has diverted into a whole lot of topics that have nothing to do with the Capacity Investment Scheme, and I ask him to return to the—

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

The minister has concluded his answer.