Energy

Thwaites stated that the government was committed to supporting workers in Whyalla and working with the South Australian government to secure a sustainable future for the region. Thwaites argued that the opposition had a poor track record on manufacturing, citing the departure of car manufacturers during their previous term in government. Thwaites highlighted the benefits of renewable energy, noting that over 540,000 households had installed batteries through the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, leading to lower bills and greater energy independence. Thwaites contended that delaying the transition to renewables would result in higher electricity costs and that the government's approach was delivering cheaper, cleaner energy for households.

Venning argued that the government's failure to answer questions about the Whyalla closure demonstrated a lack of accountability and support for workers. Venning claimed that high industrial energy prices in South Australia, driven by renewable energy policies, were a primary factor in the steelworks' failure, noting that the region had the highest power and gas prices in the industrial world. Venning criticised the government's investment in green hydrogen as a 'hoax', pointing out that $600 million had been spent on a hydrogen plant in Whyalla that was subsequently shelved. Venning asserted that the government's ideology was causing job losses and that the reliance on intermittent renewable energy was not suitable for heavy industry.

Gosling affirmed the government's commitment to domestic steel manufacturing and the long-term future of the Whyalla steelworks. Gosling shifted focus to the Northern Territory, highlighting projects like SunCable and Energy North that would utilise solar energy to power local industry and potentially export renewable energy to ASEAN neighbours. Gosling discussed the government's guardrails for data centres, stating that investments must benefit the community, strengthen the grid, and not push up household bills. Gosling noted that the Australian Energy Regulator would assess cases where state-owned energy might be cheaper than renewables, ensuring that household costs remained low.

Webster criticised the Minister for Climate Change and Energy for previously championing green hydrogen as a 'superpower' opportunity while now downplaying its importance, which she described as misleading. Webster argued that the closure of the Whyalla smelter and the loss of 600 jobs demonstrated the failure of the government's ideological approach to energy. Webster highlighted concerns from farmers in her electorate regarding the rollout of renewable energy projects on agricultural land, stating that there was a lack of social licence for these developments. Webster noted that the Western Renewables Link project had been paused pending an inquiry, suggesting that the economics and community support for such projects were questionable.

Coffey argued that addressing climate change was both a moral and economic imperative, citing warnings from the United Nations Environment Programme about exceeding global warming thresholds. Coffey highlighted the success of the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which had supported over 500,000 battery installations since July of the previous year, including 2,258 in her electorate of Griffith. Coffey discussed initiatives for renters, such as the Solar Sharer Offer and Community Solar Banks, which provided access to solar benefits for those who did not own their homes. Coffey also noted that battery electric vehicle sales had surpassed petrol vehicle sales for the first time, indicating a shift in consumer behaviour towards cleaner energy options.

Pasin argued that the government's renewables-only agenda had driven up electricity prices, leading to the failure of energy-intensive industries like the Whyalla steelworks. Pasin claimed that Australia was losing its structural steel-making capability and that the government was effectively exporting jobs to jurisdictions with lower environmental standards. Pasin criticised the government for blaming the former owner of the steel mill while ignoring the impact of high energy costs on heavy industry. Pasin asserted that the government's policies were harming regional workers and that Australia should maintain its industrial capacity rather than pursuing an ideological transition that increased energy costs.

Witty argued that the government had focused on building renewable generation and battery storage, adding more than 22 gigawatts of renewable capacity to the grid since taking office. Witty stated that this infrastructure was essential for supporting future industries and lowering household bills, contrasting this with the opposition's decade of climate wars and inaction. Witty highlighted practical reforms for households, including battery discounts and consumer protections, and for industry, such as the Capacity Investment Scheme and Future Made in Australia. Witty asserted that the government's approach rejected the false choice between climate action and economic growth, delivering real outcomes for Australian families and businesses.