Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, last week in your absence Minister Farrell was asked to name anywhere in Australia where electricity prices had gone down since the Albanese government was elected. Minister Farrell did not name anywhere but did say:

I do not follow power prices closely enough to be able to answer the question.

Minister Wong, do you follow electricity prices more closely than Minister Farrell?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Are you more in touch than Don?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll take the interjection from Senator Birmingham. I always think it's a very dangerous thing when politicians try to compete about these things—about being in touch, that is—because we're all politicians, aren't we? But we understand very acutely the cost-of-living pressures facing Australian families. Obviously, for a whole range of reasons, inflation has driven increases in costs. People are feeling it at the supermarket and they're feeling it in terms of utilities and services. That is why those of us on this side, along with the Australian Greens and others, voted for price relief for Australian families.

Every time someone from the other side comes in here and tells us about energy price relief, let's remember they voted against energy price relief. That is what the coalition did. You voted against a price cap for coal and gas. You voted against $3 billion in targeted bill relief for businesses and households most in need. You voted against a 12-month price cap on uncontracted gas at $12 a gigajoule and a 12-month price ceiling on domestic coal for New South Wales and Queensland. And then you have the gall to come in here and talk about who's out of touch. No-one who is in touch with Australian families and what is happening on the cost of living out there would have had the temerity to come into this chamber and vote against price relief for Australian families. If you want to talk about who's not in touch, have a look in the mirror, Senator Cash.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, first supplementary?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, can you name anywhere in Australia where electricity prices have gone down since the Albanese government was elected?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, I know that everywhere in Australia would have had higher prices if you were in government. That's what we do know, and we know that prices have risen by less than they would have as a result of the government's policy which you voted against.

Opposi tion senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Wong.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those opposite—not only did they vote against price relief, they also think that the way you deal with energy prices—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Wong! Order! It is not appropriate for the noise levels—

Senator Birmingham, I've called the chamber to order. It is not appropriate for the noise level in here to get so loud that the senator can't hear me calling her to order. It is not appropriate to shout across the chamber on both sides. I would ask senators to listen respectfully. Minister, please continue.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Not only do those opposite think that an answer to rising prices is to vote against price relief, they think an answer to rising prices is to hide them. Before the last election, their response to rising energy prices was, 'Let's change what the DMO actually is disclosed to be'!

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Brown!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's what Mr Taylor did. Well, we on this side understand what families are facing and we're trying to do something about it. (Time expired)

The:

Senator Cash, a first supplementary.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why hasn't, Minister, the Prime Minister delivered on his promise to reduce electricity bills by $275, a promise that he made 97 times prior to the election? Why does everything always cost more under Labor?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order. Before I—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let's—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, I haven't called you. Before I call the minister—Senator Polley, I'm calling you to order; it doesn't require a response. Minister, please continue.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let's talk about the default market offer. The Australia Energy Regulator published the draft DMO for 2023-24. What that showed—and this is what's happening to energy prices—is the DMO will rise up to 22 per cent for households and up to 25.4 per cent for businesses. That is a substantial increase. But what it also showed is without the coal and gas price caps, that you voted against, the price increase would have been 51 per cent and 53 per cent—51 per cent and 53 per cent!

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, please resume your seat.

Senator Cash, it is not appropriate to interject in such a loud voice as to try and outcompete the minister. She's been asked a question, she's entitled to answer it and she's entitled to senators listening respectfully and silently. Minister, please continue.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll just repeat that: that without the coal and gas price caps, that those opposite voted against, the price increases that Australians, households and businesses, would have faced would have been 51 per cent and 53 per cent respectively. So, if anybody wants to come in here and suggest we're out of touch, I suggest those opposite should look in a mirror. I ask the President that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.