Matter of Public Importance

Minister for Climate Change and Energy

Senate · Tuesday 25 November 2025

Official Hansard for this day (APH) · Read this debate on OpenAustralia

At a glance

The debate centred on whether the Minister for Climate Change and Energy should assume the additional role of President of Negotiations for COP31. Opposition members argued this dual role distracted from domestic energy failures, citing rising prices and missed renewable targets. Government members defended the appointment as a significant diplomatic achievement that elevated Australia's global standing and supported Pacific nations. They attributed current energy challenges to previous government inaction and highlighted recent reductions in wholesale prices and increased renewable uptake. The debate concluded without a vote, as is standard for Matters of Public Importance.

Outcome

The matter was discussed as a Matter of Public Importance; no vote was taken.

Summary in reported speech - not a transcript. AI-generated, so check the official record before quoting.

How the debate unfolded

Opened the debate

Jane Hume (VIC) (Liberal Party) Liberal

Senator Hume argued that the government had failed to meet its 2022 election promises regarding renewable energy targets, emissions reductions, and electricity bill cuts. Hume claimed that power prices had increased by 40 per cent, leaving households paying approximately $1,300 more annually than promised. Hume criticised the expenditure of $7 million on a failed bid to host COP31, suggesting the minister prioritised global summits over domestic energy security. Senator Hume stated that the new role would not reduce energy costs and highlighted the closure of manufacturing businesses and financial strain on small enterprises due to high energy costs.

Opposition response

Dean Smith (WA) (Liberal Party) Liberal

Senator Smith questioned the compatibility of the minister holding both the energy portfolio and the COP31 negotiation role. Smith asked whether the minister would attend all parliamentary sittings in 2026 and how taxpayer resources would be allocated to support the new position. Senator Smith raised concerns about potential conflicts between national interests and international negotiation obligations. Smith argued that the appointment was ill-timed given recent reports indicating gloomy prospects for electricity prices and reliability.

Carol Brown (TAS) (Australian Labor Party) ALP support

Senator Brown defended the government's energy record, attributing current challenges to a decade of policy instability under the previous administration. Brown highlighted that 24 of 28 coal-fired power stations announced closures during the opposition's tenure without a replacement plan. Senator Brown emphasised the diplomatic significance of leading negotiations at COP31 alongside Pacific nations, describing it as a restoration of Australia's international credibility.
Steph Hodgins-May (VIC) (Australian Greens) Greens mixed

Senator Hodgins-May criticised both the coalition for abandoning net zero targets and the Labor government for continuing fossil fuel approvals. Hodgins-May noted that no gas export project had paid petroleum resource rent tax, arguing that national energy policy disproportionately favoured the oil and gas industry. Senator Hodgins-May asserted that renewables were cheaper and more reliable, urging the government to treat this reality as a mandate rather than an inconvenience.
Leah Blyth (SA) (Liberal Party) Liberal oppose

Senator Blyth argued that the minister's focus on global conferences diverted attention from domestic household bills and energy grid reliability. Blyth questioned the cost of the COP31 role, suggesting hidden expenses beyond the reported $8 million. Senator Blyth claimed that emissions had remained flat since Labor took office, while power bills rose significantly, and criticised the government for signing declarations that phased out fossil fuels.
Josh Dolega (TAS) (Australian Labor Party) ALP support

Senator Dolega highlighted the government's international leadership role, particularly in supporting Pacific nations through the pre-COP process. Dolega reported that renewables supplied half of the national electricity market recently, contributing to a one-third drop in wholesale prices. Senator Dolega cited research indicating that delaying renewables could increase household bills by hundreds of dollars annually and drain trillions from the economy, blaming the opposition for previous policy paralysis.

Opened by

Jane Hume (VIC) (Liberal Party)

Liberal

Speeches

7 speeches, 4 other contributors

Topics

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About Senate debates

The Senate debates bills, motions, matters of public importance and the answers given in Question Time. Senators from all parties and the crossbench take part, and a minister or the minister representing them usually replies for the government. Summaries are in reported speech, not transcripts; always check the official record before quoting.