Natalie Barr has criticized the administration of Anthony Albanese live on television for failing to fulfill its commitment to curb rising energy prices.
The Sunrise host and federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek battled on Monday, as Labor celebrates the six-month anniversary of its election victory after promising Australians a reduction in electricity prices by Christmas.
Prior to the federal election, Labor had pledged a $275 reduction in electricity rates by 2025; however, this promise has been removed from Labor’s official campaign website.
Barr questioned Plibersek if the government will devote the last two weeks of the 2022 legislative session to fulfilling the unfulfilled election promise.
The heated argument also produced a verbal spat between Plibersek and Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce, eventually compelling Barr to end the segment.
She lashed out at Plibersek after the minister attributed the rise in electricity costs to Russia’s war in Ukraine and the former Scott Morrison Coalition government, which failed to implement any of its 22 energy policies during its nine years in power.
Barr fumed, “Look, Tanya, your administration has been in office for six months, and there comes a time when we can’t just sit here and blame the previous administration.”
Plibersek attempted to interject, but an animated Barr continued speaking.
Fair enough, you’ve had a chance to blame the previous administration, but doesn’t a time come when we declare, “This is what we’re going to do?”
Will you, as promised, have a plan to lower energy costs by the end of the year?
Again, Plibersek refused to provide a definitive yes or no answer.
She acknowledged that millions of families and businesses were suffering prior to promoting the government’s push toward renewable energy, which she asserted would reduce prices.
Plibersek stated, “We are working very hard with the gas companies and state and territory governments to reduce the cost of energy.”
In the short term, we must prioritize natural gas, but in the long term, the plan is to integrate cheaper, cleaner, renewable energy into the grid.
We have set aside $20 billion to update our transmission networks, with a goal of 82% renewable energy, as we recognize that this is the cheapest form of electricity in human history.
Former deputy prime minister Joyce was exhausted at this point and could not wait to attack Plibersek’s claims that renewable energy will be less expensive.
He said, “Look at your electric bill, that is the reality of it, so good luck!”
In June, the grid nearly collapsed. If you want power prices to decrease, don’t listen to the Labor Party; instead, examine your power bill, which is skyrocketing.
This entire renewable energy issue, which will make electricity free! It’s never been dearer before in our lives. You are the administration!’
As Joyce and Plibersek screamed over each other, tensions rose, causing Barr to terminate the segment.
I believe we will leave it at that. Both sides engaged in a very emotional argument,’ she claimed.
Ben Fordham, host of the 2GB breakfast show, also commented on the energy situation, noting that an increasing number of homes are living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to make ends meet in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
“Tough decisions must be taken if your electricity bill suddenly doubles,” Fordham advised listeners on Monday.
The reality is that our authorities in Canberra have no idea how to stop the current energy disaster.
They lack a strategy to reduce energy prices. Only the Russian invasion of Ukraine is blamed.
With little respite in sight for poor families, Fordham took aim at the government when it surreptitiously withdrew from its website an election promise to reduce electricity bills.
In politics, a new form of ‘promise’ has emerged. There are fulfilled promises. There are broken promises,’ he stated.
And when it comes to Labor’s commitment to reduce the cost of electricity, it’s a broken promise!
A coalition of organizations has proposed a solution to Australia’s energy price dilemma, sparking a heated debate.
The independent Climate Council, Smart Energy Council, and community organization Solar Citizens urged the Albanian government to establish a storage target rather than prop up existing generation.
Heidi Lee Douglas, the director of Solar Citizens, stated on Monday that more than three million Australian families with solar panels on their roofs have been safeguarded from soaring gas and coal prices.
Additionally, domestic and international renewable energy entrepreneurs and investors support the proposal.