QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Mr BOWEN (McMahon—Minister for Climate Change and Energy) (14:36): When the Cheaper Home Batteries Program was implemented on 1 July 2025, I instigated a committee, which consists of the Clean Energy Regulator and industry bodies and industry representatives, which has been meeting regularly and keeping me advised of progress and all issues. I've received regular progress reports from the Clean Energy Regulator directly, and those regular progress reports have told me that the number of complaints as a proportion of installations for cheaper home batteries since this program was introduced have halved.
They have halved. Complaints per thousand installations have halved since this came in. Again, I say to those opposite: 535,833 Australian houses have installed a cheaper home battery.
I know they don't like it— The SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business, on a point of order. Mr Tehan: Once again, it was an incredibly direct question: on what date was the minister first made aware of the fraud? That is what the question asked for—nothing else.
It's a straight answer we're looking for on this, about fraud. It's a serious question. The SPEAKER: Yes.
The manager is correct. The question was very specific, so, if the minister doesn't have any more information, he won't be able to fill the whole time by talking about other topics. He's going to have to be directly relevant to the question.
He was asked a specific question. I can't demand the minister deliver what the manager requests, but I can make sure he's being directly relevant, not talking about any other policy than the specific one mentioned in the question. Mr BOWEN: Quite right, Mr Speaker.
As I said, I started receiving updates on the implementation of the program on 1 July 2025 and have received them regularly. Those updates have shown me that the Manager of Opposition Business's claims of systemic fraud are not true. They are a lie.
Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! Resume your seat. I'm going to deal with— Mr Taylor interjecting— The SPEAKER: Resume your seat.
Yes. I'm just going to deal with this in an orderly way. The minister knows that is unparliamentary.
Let me deal with the issue, and then we can resume. I thank the minister. Everyone is reminded that that standing order is enforced and that principle is enforced for everyone.