Senate debates

Wednesday, 5 December 2018

Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers

Energy

3:20 pm

Photo of Jane HumeJane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Heinous! Abolishing the carbon tax has saved each household around $550 per year and reduced electricity bills by up to 10 per cent. We have also reined in the power of the electricity networks by abolishing the limited merits review introduced by, I think, the Gillard part of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd government. If Labor had done that sooner, it would have saved Australian energy users over $6 billion. We've also secured better deals for at least 1.6 million households which have seen retail electricity prices come down in Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales on 1 July this year. We secured better deals for those 1.6 million households by negotiating directly with the retailers. And, in 2017, we provided $269 million for a one-off energy assistance payment to age and disability support pensioners, single-parent families and veterans. The payment was $75 for singles and $125 for couples.

But we have not stopped there. We are also now stopping the price gouging by energy companies with the big stick legislation, so lovingly referred to by those opposite, which was introduced to parliament just this week. We're providing customers with a price safety net to put customers back in charge and help those who don't have time to shop around. We're establishing a default price. A default price will provide relief from confusing and often expensive standing offers, and we're backing investment in reliable generation and encouraging more competition in the market. The energy market is no longer competitive. It is a broken market, and big players dominate the sector. We are increasing competition, lowering prices and guaranteeing reliable supply. The government will back new and reliable affordable generation. On top of that, we're supporting reliable power by requiring the energy companies to sign contracts guaranteeing enough energy to meet demand.

That is the coalition's plan for affordable and reliable energy. For too long, power companies have put their own interests ahead of those of consumers. The coalition will no longer allow that to happen. We have a plan for affordable and reliable energy that is keeping prices down. Shall we have a look at Labor's energy policy? When will they learn? They will never learn. An ideological approach will not bring prices down, it will not keep the lights on and it will, in fact, cost jobs. At what point do you learn from South Australia's experience that a 45 per cent emissions reduction target and a 50 per cent renewable target will not only cost jobs; it will prevent prices coming down and it will keep you in the dark. Understand that Labor will tax your growth away, it will cost you your job and it will leave you in the dark. Only the coalition can be relied on to bring energy prices down.

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