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

It is time. It is time to prioritise energy security and energy abundance and to take real action to drive down power prices, ease the cost-of-living pressures, and protect Australian jobs and our environment. It was 1,283 days ago that the Albanese Labor government was elected, promising life would be cheaper for Australians. They promised lower energy bills and a lower cost of living and they pledged that no Australian would be left behind, but, 1,283 days later, where do we stand?

Energy bills are up by 40 per cent, instead of the $275 cut that Labor promised. Australians are paying $1,300 more for their power. Across the country, Australia is de-industrialising and families are getting poorer. Nearly five years into this net zero experiment, we've lost our plastics industry, our nickel industry and our urea industry. We are losing our metals manufacturing sector, and green hydrogen has completely failed. Worryingly, 90 per cent of emission cuts have come from cutting productive farmland. Australia is the best agricultural producer in the world. We cannot cripple our ability to feed ourselves or our partners under the guise of net zero.

There is a cheaper, better and fairer way. Our plan is cheaper because we will lower energy prices first, use all of our resources and abandon Labor's $9 trillion plan. Our plan is better because we will genuinely protect our local environment through community action such as waterways protection, land restoration and soil carbon. Our plan is fairer because we will reduce emissions in line with comparable nations, not ahead of them. It is time for a cheaper, better, fairer energy plan that actually supports Australia and Australians.