MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

Mr VIOLI (Casey—Opposition Chief Whip) (15:54): It's important that we look at a couple of facts when it comes to energy prices. Fact 1: the now government, then opposition, promised a $275 price reduction 97 times before the 2022 election. Before that election, when they were in opposition, they promised it 97 times.

As soon as they were elected they did not make that commitment again. When we raised this in the last term of parliament, some of those on the backbench interjected and said, 'We promised we would get it by 2025.' As we stand here at the end of October in 2025, I challenge those opposite to name one member of their community who has seen their power prices reduced by $275 since 2022 when you were elected.

There is not one— Government members interjecting— Mr VIOLI: Solar batteries—we'll get to solar batteries. To get the benefit of solar batteries, you've got to spend $9,000. Not everyone has $9,000 in their back pocket to pay for a solar battery.

We talk about rebates. They are temporary, one-off rebates. You're completely failing the Australian people, and the energy system does not provide sustainable relief for those opposite.

The member for Dickson was very quick to talk about the rebates. What's the member for Dickson going to tell her community in January 2026 when there are no more rebates and energy prices are up, as confirmed by Treasury, the RBA governor and everyone opposite? Temporary relief helps when you've got no chance to get sustainable prices down, but, when it runs out, the Australian people pay the price.

I look forward to being back here in February to see what line the government have, because they've run out of the temporary relief. They made another promise at that time in 2022, based on the same modelling. They don't talk about the RepuTex modelling anymore.

There were two parts to the modelling: reducing prices by $275 by 2025—fail. They also said in that modelling that they would get a 42 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030. As we stand here today, they are going to fail on that target as well.

I know the member for Dawson gave a trigger warning. Well, I'm going to give them another trigger warning that I know they don't like. I know the member for Bennelong gets upset about this as well.

Under this government, under the Albanese Labor government, who have been in power since 2002, 3½ years— Mr Rob Mitchell: We've been in power since 2002? You can't count. Mr VIOLI: Since 2022—emissions have flatlined since 2022.

This government has not reduced emissions at all. They talk about energy. On the two key pillars, they have failed.

They have failed to reduce prices and they have failed to reduce emissions. That is why we have a situation where there is $300 million of energy debt in this country. Community members in Casey and in every community represented in this House are dealing with $300 million in energy debt.

That has happened under this government—3½ years in power and $300 million in energy debt. We can talk about a number like that, but what does it mean when we talk about individuals? It means the pain they are facing.

I could talk for hours about the examples I get from my community, but I will use one example. Robert from Millgrove wrote recently: 'I just received an email from Red Energy saying that my electricity charges will be increased. When will the price rises on everything stop?

My wages have not been increased, so every year my standard of living decreases.' Robert is one of many people in my community and many others who are paying the price for the failures of this government. The reality is that the Minister for Energy and Climate Change can stand up in question time and refuse to answer the questions about the challenges that businesses face and that the community faces, but that's the political spin and theatre of this place.

It doesn't provide solutions for our community members who are paying the price for their failures. You can spin and spin and spin and talk about the opposition from 3½ years ago. The community want real solutions.

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