Varun Ghosh (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. In May this year, the Albanese Labor government was re-elected with a mandate to keep acting on climate change and to keep delivering an affordable and cleaner energy system. One of the signature measures was Labor's commitment to deliver cheaper home batteries to bring down electricity costs for Australian households. What progress has the government made on this commitment and its broader work in delivering a new and affordable energy system?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ghosh, thank you very much for that question. We have made quite a bit of progress indeed. The policy of reducing the cost of household batteries, which was endorsed by the people of Australia in the last election, is building on Australia's success with rooftop solar. Now, indeed, from 1 July, we are implementing cheaper home batteries, and over 15,000 Australian households across the country have taken up those batteries. Since 1 July—28 days—that's 15,000 Australian households already. That's 536 households every single day, signing up, buying batteries, delivering cheaper prices for them and doing a lot of work to stabilise our electricity grid.

Susan McDonald (Queensland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How much does it cost?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It slashes the price of a battery—Senator McDonald talks about cost—by 30 per cent and, for many of those households, will bring down their energy bills by up to 90 per cent. This involves tens of thousands of people in electorates like Gilmore, where 214 Australian households have taken advantage of the scheme; Macquarie, where 200 Australian households have done so; the seat of Hunter, where 197 Australian households have taken up this offer and delivered cheaper power and cheaper batteries for themselves; Flinders, where 109 households have done so; the seat of Wright, where 238 have done so; and, in Western Australia, where Senator Cash was indulging in a right-wing ideological frolic over the weekend, the seats of Mayo and Tangney. All lead their states.

Honourable senators interjecting—

The Labor seat of— (Time expired)

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! I have Senator Ghosh on his feet.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Senator Ghosh, I haven't called you yet. I'm still waiting for order. Senator Ghosh, first supplementary?

Varun Ghosh (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Investment in energy infrastructure is key to delivering clean and affordable power to households and businesses. Minister, what progress has been made on delivering renewable energy investment and deployment?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You're right, Senator Ghosh, that cheaper home batteries doesn't just deliver benefits for those Australian households—with 15,000 that have already taken advantage of the scheme—it also delivers system-wide benefits. It's not the only Albanese government policy on the electricity system that is breaking records. Our policies across the economy are helping drive down emissions and deliver on our targets, with a record renewable uptake. Energy and industrial emissions are lower than when we came to government, with policies like the safeguard reforms, the Capacity Investment Scheme and the Cheaper Home Batteries Program helping turn around a decade of denial and neglect that drove disinvestment, fewer Australian jobs and more Australian jobs flooding offshore because of the policy incoherence that was on display in the Morrison period and is back on display here in Canberra right now. (Time expired)

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

Senator Ghosh, second supplementary?

Varun Ghosh (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

During the election campaign, the Albanese Labor government made meeting our climate goals and delivering investment in cheap and clean energy a key pillar of the pitch to the Australian people. Why is it necessary to provide clear signals to the market about the policy approach to this issue? What are the risks if clear signals are not sent?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Ghosh, for that question. Policy certainty actually matters. It gives business the confidence to invest. This government is giving the market the signals that it requires to deliver and move ahead with major energy infrastructure projects that provide clean power and affordable power for Australians. But what signal is being provided by those opposite? Senator Paterson, who knows that the opposition is in chaos, argues—interestingly for a senator—that they are also irrelevant. He said: 'Our position on this issue is academic. We are in opposition.' Australians can see the chaos, and abrogating your responsibility as an alternative party of government to take the policy process seriously and deliver some kind of certainty for Australians and Australian business really shows us how— (Time expired)

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

I ask that further questions be placed on notice.