Question Time AU

Take Note Debate

Energy

Senate · Thursday 2 July 2026

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

At a glance

Senator Roberts moved a motion to take note of the Minister for Industry and Innovation's response to a question regarding electricity prices. Roberts argued that the government's claim of falling prices was misleading because it excluded rising connection charges. He contended that renewable energy policies had increased wholesale costs and that solar installations did not provide sufficient savings to offset grid fees. The motion was agreed to by the Senate.

Outcome

The motion was agreed to.

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

How the debate unfolded

Opened the debate

Malcolm Roberts (QLD) (Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) One Nation

Roberts argued that the government misled the public by separating connection charges from usage charges to claim price reductions. Roberts stated that connection fees in Queensland exceeded $500 annually, negating savings from solar power. Roberts claimed that wholesale prices had risen from $65 to over $100 per kilowatt hour since 2020, despite daytime solar gluts. Roberts asserted that Australia now had some of the highest electricity costs globally due to reliance on solar and wind.