Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Senator Dolega—who I know is a rational voice in this debate, which is fast becoming more irrational by the day. The facts show that the government's policies are encouraging a greater uptake in the cheapest and cleanest form of energy generation, that being renewables. In fact, for two months in a row—I hope you're sitting down now—renewable power has provided more electricity in Australia than coal. Are you okay? Are you okay after a few facts?

We're doing this through policies like the Capacity Investment Scheme and supporting the take-up of home batteries and community batteries at a massive scale, with the rebate program for home batteries experiencing incredible popularity. All of this means more clean and cheap energy generation across the country. The Australian Energy Market Operator quarterly figures showed a 27 per cent reduction in wholesale prices because of this record renewables penetration. That's right! Power prices would be higher under the Nationals policy of extending coal, let alone under nuclear power. Obviously, we've got more work to do to ensure that those reductions are flowing through to consumers, but it's good to see the impact that renewables are having on that wholesale price. Despite the best efforts of the coalition and, somewhat surprisingly, the Greens party, who also want to block renewables, our government is also supporting the rollout of renewables by ensuring they are approved in a timely fashion.

Since coming to office in May 2022, our government has approved 111 renewable energy projects across the country. That's enough to power every home in Australia and more. What a contrast that is to the energy policy trainwreck we see unfolding endlessly in the coalition, who, having produced I think it was 23 energy policies in government, are now approaching 30 in opposition. Now they're so divided they had to agree to not even talk about net zero in their party room today. (Time expired)