MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

Ms FRANCE (Dickson) (15:49): I'm really, really concerned about the member for Wannon. I'm really concerned that he might be suffering from some sort of amnesia or memory loss or a lack of sleep, or maybe he's just terrible with numbers. And I'm also now concerned that the member for Dawson might be suffering from the same kind of condition.

Everyone in this place knows that the Albanese Labor government has consistently rolled out energy bill relief over the past four years—2023, 2024, 2025. We have delivered not one, not two but three rounds of energy bill relief to homes and small businesses. In 2023 we provided rebates of up to $250 for pensioners and those receiving government benefits and $324 for small businesses.

Then, in 2024, we rolled out $3.5 billion in energy bill relief—$300 for every household and $325 for small businesses. And, this year, we are delivering an extra $1.8 billion in energy bill relief, giving every household and around one million small businesses a $150 rebate. This is targeted, meaningful help that will make a real difference for families and businesses in Dickson and across the nation.

Not only are we taking the sting out of bills; our energy relief rebate is expected to directly reduce national headline inflation by about half a per cent. The Albanese government has also acted to cap coal and gas prices, shielding Australians from the global energy crisis. Those opposite voted against that too.

Households can now get 30 per cent off the cost of installing a home battery. We're helping families take control of their energy use, lower their bills and contribute to a cleaner future. Already, 760 households in my electorate of Dickson have installed home batteries through the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, to store their sunshine and power their homes, saving them money off their electricity bills.

And we're not just helping with electricity bills; we are helping families by strengthening Medicare and investing in housing, education and clean energy. We are providing real, tangible cost-of-living relief for Australians while also investing in the cheapest form of energy—renewables and batteries. We're rolling out critical investments in renewable energy, because the sun and the wind do not send a bill.

This is in stark contrast to the coalition's miserable approach. Not only did the coalition change the law to hide a 20 per cent hike in electricity prices before the 2022 election; those opposite disgracefully then went on to vote against energy bill relief for millions of Aussies. I'll say that again in case you missed it, in case you're lacking sleep or you've had some sort of memory loss: those opposite voted against reducing electricity bills for millions of Australians.

The member for Dawson says that those opposite always support small business, but you did not support energy bill relief for small businesses in 2023. You voted against it. In the first half of 2025, renewables supplied more electricity globally than coal, and that is why 1,000 Aussie households a day are installing one of Labor's Cheaper Home Batteries Program batteries.

The member for Wannon and the coalition voted against Aussies struggling with the cost of living when they voted against energy bill relief. We know, at the last election, the people of Australia overwhelmingly voted for a cheaper, renewable-energy focused future. They did not buy the hocus-pocus nuclear policy of those opposite.

But, of course, those opposite are hell-bent on ignoring that. At the election and to this day, they have said the solution to Australian energy bills is the most expensive and slowest energy possible—nuclear. It's two to six times more costly than renewables.

So, while those opposite are arguing amongst— (Time expired)