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SenateThursday 6 February 2025

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) (14:45): Thanks, Senator Roberts. I don't have a figure just for the forward estimates, being the next four years. But, as I said, the cost of delivering our power network into the future under the government's plan is $122 billion in net present value terms.

Now, I know there is another plan out there. But is it really a plan, or, as Senator Canavan revealed, is it just a political fix? Whatever it is, that nuclear plan from Mr Dutton costs $600 billion.

We know that means that power prices will go up by about $1,200 per household per year. And we know that, to fund that $600 billion that is required for the nuclear program, Mr Dutton will have to put in place very big cuts to things like Medicare, energy support, cost-of-living relief, housing, pensions and all manner of other things to fund the most expensive form of power you can provide.

The PRESIDENT: Senator Roberts, second supplementary?

SourceSenate, Thursday 6 February 2025 — official recordTA-250206-senate-0d8b81d304fa:s177