James Paterson Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service
2:00 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. Mr Bowen has repeated on numerous occasions that renewables are the cheapest form of energy. Yet, since Labor was elected, power prices have risen by nearly 40 per cent. Minister, when will power bills come down under your net zero plan?
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
I do remember, Senator Paterson, your colleague Senator Canavan on these questions at the end of the dull, dark period of inaction that characterised the Morrison period of government, saying that electricity prices had gone up by 91 per cent when you lot were in charge of the electricity system. After Mr Taylor and Mr Morrison legislated net zero targets, after Mr Morrison went to the COP in Glasgow and then wandered around and did a big holiday on taxpayers' expense—wandering around, doing a family history tour of southern England—
Sue Lines President
Minister Ayres, thank you. Resume your seat. Senator Paterson?
James Paterson Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service
President, I'm not sure if you're listening closely to the minister's answer, but it was way, way, way off. On direct relevance, I ask that you pull him back to the question.
Sue Lines President
I always listen carefully, Senator Paterson, and I will draw the minister back to your question.
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
What I was illustrating, of course—and I'll get to that little part of your question that brushed with the facts in due course—was that Mr Morrison's approach was to take climate negotiations as a holiday opportunity.
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
This government is taking an entirely different approach, resolving the wreckage where 24 out of 28 coalfired power stations announced their closure or brought their closure forward with no action—not one new generator, not any substantial infrastructure. Under us—
Senator, don't you worry; we'll get there. We've got 28 seconds.
Sue Lines President
Minister Ayres, please resume your seat. Senator Paterson?
James Paterson Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service
The minister is helpfully signposting that he has no intention of answering my question, by saying he'll get there. I think it's a fair indication that he is not being directly relevant.
Sue Lines President
I am listening carefully. I have directed the minister to your question. I take at face value that he will get there, but, if he doesn't, I will remind him of your question.
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
Renewables, backed by storage, gas and hydro, is the lowest possible source of electricity generation. We are battling against a decade of inaction, inertia and policy paralysis that characterise your show, which is getting worse, and power prices will always be lower under our orderly model than under your disorderly show.
James Paterson Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service
2:03 pm
Australians have never had it any better, Minister! Mr Bowen said earlier this month:
With investment in the cheapest form of generation, renewables, we are modernising our grid whilst putting downward pressure on bills.
Yet more than 350,000 Australian households were facing electricity bill debt in the first half of the year alone, and 10,268 businesses went insolvent or appointed external administrators, a 53 per cent increase year on year. Minister, what is your message to the more than 330,000 Australian households— (Time expired)
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
2:04 pm
My message is that, on electricity prices, there are two scenarios moving forward from here. One is a rollout of an electricity modernisation program with the lowest possible cost.
James Paterson Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service
How's that working out?
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
You see, Senator Paterson, there's this thing called 'hard work', which you may not understand. There's this thing called 'national effort', which you may not understand. There are these sets of principles around national interest that obviously always escape you. This is a job that we have to do to recover the wreckage that was left after a decade of policy inertia. That's the truth. We have work to do to recover the wreckage that you and your colleagues left. It damaged Australia's capacity, it damaged ordinary Australians and it damaged heavy industry.
James Paterson Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service
2:05 pm
Minister, Mr Bowen, earlier this month, celebrated a record amount of renewable energy generation in Australia. Considering we have a record amount of what Mr Bowen claims is the cheapest form of power, will you guarantee that the cheapest form of power will reduce household energy bills next year?
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
I think I said yesterday, controversially, that a question that I was asked was dishonest. The question that you just asked is, at best, wilfully misdirected—a wilful misunderstanding of the position. Of course, you only need to grapple with the economic and engineering realities of this to agree with the Australian Energy Market Commission, who say:
Delaying the connection of renewable generation and transmission into the market would put upward pressure on residential electricity costs.
What we know for certain is that, under your disorderly transition scenario, prices would be higher. Under our scenario, prices would be lower than they otherwise would.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Hon. Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
Order! Minister, you've concluded your answer? Yes? Thank you.