Jessica Collins (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today Senator Pocock moved a matter of public importance acknowledging that the Australian government should 'legislate to redirect uncontracted export gas into the domestic market and bring down the price of gas and electricity for Australian industry and households, to recognise that Australian gas is for Australian households and businesses.' I wholeheartedly agree with Senator Pocock that Australians need access to more gas. The purpose of every senator in this place is to improve the lives of the Australian people first, and Australians are doing it tough right now.

Because of the policies of this government, Australians have paid 40 per cent more for their electricity since 2022. That is 40 per cent more in three years under Labor. This significant price rise is not felt only on quarterly energy bills. Sadly, the flow-on of higher energy prices is felt economy-wide. Food prices are up 15 per cent thanks in no small way to the increased electricity costs of refrigeration and processing. Housing is up 19 per cent partly because the local manufacturing of building materials in NSW like steel, aluminium and wood products can't get reliable and cheap power for machining and refining. Transport costs are through the roof. Farming is becoming untenable, and mining is under threat. And it all comes back to this government abandoning the field on energy prices.

But no longer are Australians allowed to know what the modelling shows will happen to electricity prices. Energy price modelling that's paid for using tax dollars is being withheld from the Australian public, and we all know why that is: prices are only going up, and those on the other side don't want to admit it. However, increasing gas supply drives down prices. Australian gas is already going to be burned for power, and yet the government would rather it be burned in Japan than here at home to support Australians. Japan has cheaper power than Australia, but, to appease unachievable and uneconomic emissions targets, the Labor government would rather it be burnt overseas so it counts against Japan's emissions, not our own. I find it hard to agree with the Greens political party sometimes, but on this we can agree: It is one of the earth. Emissions in Japan are the same as emissions in Australia, but power prices are not.

Releasing this unallocated gas to the Australian market can help restore Australia's natural advantage in manufacturing, quality of life and stability in our energy grid. It will help relieve the stress for small-business owners, households and families. Releasing this gas lets the world know that Australia can do business, that we can make things competitively and make them with the best workers, who understand that investment needs certainty in supply.

The only thing certain under this Labor government is higher energy bills, and Australians are paying the price. How these ministers opposite can face the people of Tomago, the farmers of regional New South Wales and the manufacturers of Western Sydney I could never guess. Release the gas, reduce energy prices and put Australians first.