Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

Ensuring energy security is one of our top priorities—making sure the lights stay on and that prices are affordable. In the wake of the South Australian blackout, which was estimated to cost some $367 million in lost economic activity and the like, the Commonwealth called an extraordinary meeting of the COAG Energy Council and got agreement to the expert Finkel review that is being undertaken. We also got agreement to a range of emergency measures, including requiring two gas-generating units to be on at all times, constraining the Heywood interconnector at certain times and stricter controls in relation to wind farms.

But unfortunately these measures which might improve reliability come at additional cost, so we are dead keen to make sure we work on measures to drive down costs in the future as well. That is why we have an agreement to abolish the limited merits review process. It will save consumers money. There is already in New South Wales a threat to a $300 reduction in household bills as a result of the gaming of that by some electricity networks. There is also our reform to improve— (Time expired)