Chris Bowen
McMahon · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“This builds on very important investments in our community, including 3,000 presentations to the Fairfield Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, including, in a couple of instances, members of my own family; 25,000 presentations to the Wentworthville urgent care clinic, which is important for the Greystanes and Pemulwuy community; and 22,000 prese…”
“Well, it's 1 July, an important day in our ambitions to deliver real change for Australians—real change that the Australian people instructed us to commence in 2022 and instructed us to keep going with in 2025. It's an important day with that real change and with a very strong focus on cost-of-living relief.”
“I thank the honourable member for the question. I can confirm for the honourable member that there is nothing 'so called' about free power when it's a requirement of law for the energy companies to provide it as an option to people in the relevant jurisdictions, including the constituents of Fowler.”
“I thank the honourable member for the question and thank her for our recent visit to a wonderful part of the world. One of the things we did was talk about cheaper home batteries. Today is 1 July, which means the cheaper home batteries policy is officially one year old today.”
“For those people who take that offer up, Morgan Stanley have found, for example, that some families could save $660 a year, which we on this side of the house think is a good thing. Those on that side of the house are opposed to it.”
“When we came to office, home batteries were in one in 60 houses. Now it's one in 17. That's wonderful for those families that are reducing their bills, in many cases to nothing and in some cases getting a rebate instead of a bill, but it's very good for putting downward pressure on energy prices for everyone.”
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Every one of 423 lines we hold for Chris Bowen, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 9.
“I thank my honourable friend for the question, and the Minister for Workplace Relations may care to add to the answer after this. I am aware that asbestos has been found in 3S Industry lift brake pads used in a Goldwind Australia project, Cattle Hill Wind Farm in Tasmania, which was completed in 2020.”
“Well, given the honourable member asked me who I consulted with, I'm not sure if he checked with the shadow minister for energy, who said on 11 November 2021: … we understand that the world is moving, that the world is transitioning and we understand that that transition is taking place … we understand that new fuels and new energy sources will be required, and we want to make sure, as the globe transitions, we're very much part of that, and our resources sector will be very much part of that … Well said!”
“I thank the honourable member for his question and I thank a coalition member for having the bravery to ask a question about unity in this House. That shows considerable fortitude on his behalf. The honourable member has been quite active in the discussions on that side about the future of the Liberal Party and the coalition. Now, the honourable member asked me about a declaration, which Australia did signed up to, on the transition that's underway around the world, and apparently this is controversial.”
“Are you against the 'just' part, the 'orderly' part, the 'equitable' part, or the 'transition' part? I'm not sure—all the above? The Leader of the Opposition then went on to repeat her false allegation, which she has done now on multiple occasions, that somehow the office of president of the COP negotiations is full time. Let me put it in the clearest possible way: the Leader of the Opposition is either deliberately or not deliberately misleading the House, because it is not true—has never been true. The office of the—”
“I'm very grateful to the Leader of the Opposition for the question. The Leader of the Opposition asked it in two parts, and I'll answer in two parts. Firstly, she referred to the declaration on transition away from fossil fuels, and she asked if that is government policy. Yes, it is—and it has been since 10 November 2023, when Australia agreed with the Pacific on that exact language, at the Pacific Island Forum leaders meeting, that actually what would be a good thing for the world and for our country would be for more and cheaper renewable energy to increasingly replace fossil fuels, which are more expensive and less reliable. So, that is not a revelation. The declaration says we're for 'a just, orderly and equitable transition away from fossil fuels'.”
“I thank the honourable member for his question. Again, unlike the first few questions, these are questions that are based on serious matters that are worthy of debate in this House. There is a real debate about the various approaches, alternative approaches, to energy prices in this country. This government's approach to help Australian households with things like the Cheaper Home Batteries Program and with the solar sharer policy for three hours of free power in the middle of the day, which we introduced and they opposed, has been very broadly welcomed by Australian energy consumers, who know that renewable energy is the cheapest form of energy. We want to see more Australians benefit from it and to continue with the task of rolling out more renewable energy in this country.”
“She might like to back up that claim with any particular facts rather than just— An opposition member interjecting Any facts? No. It's a good policy. We will review it very meaningful. The honourable member correctly refers to Productivity Commission advice, but that was a report to government, not of government. It will be considered, along with a whole range of other submissions no doubt, when we begin that review next year. The honourable member will be very welcome, in all seriousness, to put in a submission to that review. We will take it and all other submissions very seriously.”
“I thank the honourable member for her question and her interest. I will say with the greatest of respect and seriously that the honourable member answered the question in the question in many respects, because it was indicated in the explanatory memorandum to the rule which accompanied the safeguard legislation that we would review the safeguard legislation in 2026-2027. We are not yet there, so that review will begin next year. I am pleased with the way in which the safeguard mechanism reforms are working thus far. The first year of data shows a reduction in on-site emissions from the covered facilities equivalent to one-third of Australia's domestic aviation. That is no small thing. That's a good reduction in emissions from the covered facilities. It shows the policy working well. The Leader of the Opposition is interjecting.”
“We have seen energy prices fall by a third in wholesale terms in the last quarter. We think that is a good thing; they think that is a bad thing.”
“Renewables are now the most cost-competitive option globally for new electricity generation, with costs about 40 to 50 per cent lower than the nearest fossil fuel option. We have the Leader of the Opposition dropping net zero, proposing maybe new coal, not new coal—we are not sure; the Liberal Party's party room couldn't even work it out. We know that it was not in their press release. It was in their glossy document that they would support new coal-fired power. After the Collinsville debacle, where they announced a new coal-fired power station in north Queensland which was never built, that is an understandable reticence by those opposite. We, on the other hand, have a clear plan to help Australian businesses and Australian families with lower energy prices.”
“I thank the honourable member for her question and, again, it is a very fair question on behalf of an Australian business. Australian businesses deserve a government focused on reducing energy costs and on modernising the energy grid. That is exactly what we have been doing and that is exactly what those opposite failed to do, with 22 failed energy policies over 10 years. Even the Leader of the Opposition just a few minutes ago denied that renewables are the cheapest form of energy. They just don't get it. I suspect the Leader of the Opposition really does know it but has to appease the climate-denying far right of her party for her hold on her job. We know from a report out today from IEA, which says renewables are the lowest-cost technology for new-build electricity generation.”
“That is because of our policies to encourage more energy, especially more renewable energy, backed by gas peaking and backed by storage. What I would say to that small business and the many other fine small businesses around Australia is that we know there is so much more to do—”
“Again, I thank the honourable member for his question. Power prices are a very important issue and a real issue of substance, and that's why I and this government have been focused on them—and we'll continue to be every day. That's why we'll continue with modernising our energy system and dealing with 10 years of denial and neglect. We saw four gigawatts of dispatchable power leave the grid and one gigawatt come on. That's a three-gigawatt gap, and that supply gap has led to increased prices. When you have more supply leave than what comes on, that actually puts upward pressure on prices. We have seen five gigawatts of solar, wind, gas and batteries come on in the last year, which is a record since the national energy market was created.”
“The good news is what reduces bills and improves reliability and reduces emissions are all the same thing—that's more renewables backed by gas and storage. That's why we are—”
“I thank the honourable member for his question. It's a very important one on a real issue—energy prices in this country—which is why I and this government have focused like a laser on energy prices and will continue to. It's why we've delivered three rounds of energy bill relief—opposed by those opposite. It's why we're continuing to help Australian households and businesses reduce their bills—in many instances, for nothing—with our cheaper home batteries policy. I'm pleased—it's been a while—to inform the House that 136,999 Australian households and small businesses have installed a cheaper home battery with 2.9 gigawatt hours worth of storage. All this is practical action to help reduce bills.”
“I thank the honourable gentleman for his question. Firstly I must correct the misperception that both the Leader of the Opposition and the shadow minister are perpetuating in their questions. The role of COP president is not a full-time position. It is quite common for the role of president of the COP—and I'll be the president of the negotiations—”
“I'm pleased that this government's achievements have been recognised with the appointment of COP negotiations president. I am pleased about that. It tells you a lot about the modern Liberal Party. In a domestic debate they say, 'Well, look, we shouldn't take any action on climate change because we're just one per cent of emissions.' When you say that maybe Australia could play an international role and help the rest of the world to decarbonise, that's a terrible thing too. We couldn't possibly have that! This is a testament to Australia. It's a testament to my team. I thank the assistant minister, the member for Fremantle, who represented Australia at the first week of COP very well. I thank my special envoy, Kate Thwaites, the member for Jagajaga, who represented me at the G20.”
“I appreciate very much the question from the Leader of the Opposition. When you are a patriotic party of government, you celebrate national successes whether you are in opposition or in government. That's the approach the Labor Party in opposition took when John Howard chaired APEC with our support. It's the approach the Labor Party took when Tony Abbott chaired the G20 with our support. It's the approach the Labor Party took to support the appointment of Mathias Cormann as secretary-general of the OECD. I'm even old enough to remember the Labor Party in government supporting the appointment of Malcolm Fraser as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. I'm even old enough to remember that! If you are serious party of government, you want your country to do well whether you are in opposition or in government.”
“I thank my honourable friend for her question. The Albanese government is delivering on a plan for cheaper, more-reliable energy for Australians, including 113,267 home batteries that have been installed since 1 July—2.3 gigawatt hours. Interestingly, nine of the top 10 electorates for cheaper home batteries are below the median weekly wage. So this is support going to those Australians who need it in order to reduce their energy bills. We're also delivering, through Solar Sharer, our plan to see more Australians being able to access free solar energy in the middle of the day, even if they don't have solar panels and a battery. All this is also leading to October being the first month in Australian history that we got 50 per cent of our power from renewable energy, in the NEM.”
“Thanks to the member for the question. I think I do need to advise the honourable member, my friend, that he could have found a better expert than that. Last I saw that individual, he was cutting videos against me in the seat of McMahon. That is how impartial he is to support an independent candidate in McMahon. I am not sure he is the sort of person I would be quoting. Maybe you could have quoted the chief executive of the Climate Energy Finance, who said, 'This is excellent, Minister'.”
“It's all going swimmingly over there, which resulted in the shadow minister for climate change, on 7.30 last night, not being able to rule out the Liberal Party, the once-great Liberal Party, supporting the construction of coal-fired power stations in Australia. The party of Harold Holt is now the party of Andrew Bolt. That's how the National Party's calling the shots over there. It's all a reminder that, as the great Bob Hawke told Australia: … if you can't govern yourselves, you can't govern the country. That was true then and it's true now. What we're seeing of those opposite is a group of parties who clearly cannot govern themselves and certainly cannot govern the country.”
“That's why we're able to deliver these things. The member asked me why focusing on the needs of Australians is so important. It's important because it's all about delivery, something the other side wouldn't understand. Remember, our friend the Leader of the National Party was asked how he would respond to Barnaby Joyce, the member for New England, leaving the National Party and he said, 'Well, we'll be focused on ourselves. You know, the reality is we'll focus on ourselves.' Well, I've got to say—I'll give credit where it's due—promise made, promise kept. They focus on themselves, just true to their word. We've had the Liberal Party say of the National Party: They are terrorists— and— The first rule of being a parasite is not to kill your host.”
“John from Bennelong gets it, Jerome from Bennelong gets it too, and members on this side of the House get it, but those members opposite don't get it. Of course, around 14 to 15 per cent of this country work shift work—people who are at home at odd hours and who might have the opportunity to use their power in the middle of the day and do so for free. There are also the 36 per cent of Australians who work from home, who have the support of this side of the House in that choice. They will be able to shift their power use to the middle of the day and get it for free. In addition to the big reductions in energy bills for those 111,000 Australian households who now have a cheaper home battery, this is what delivery looks like. We're able to do these things because we're not distracted, we're not divided and we're not fighting ourselves.”
“I thank the member for Bennelong for his question. The Albanese government is focused on delivering for the Australian people not only through the 111,385 batteries that have been installed since 1 July but also through the Solar Sharer program, announced yesterday, which will give Australians the chance to get free power in the middle of the day. Given how assiduous the member for Bennelong is and what a fantastic local member he is, I'm sure he saw the letter in the Sydney Morning Herald this morning from John from Bennelong, who wrote: Congratulations to the federal government for introducing three hours of free electricity. My household receives free power for two hours … from our provider. We charge our car, do our washing and charge household batteries during this time. As a result, our power bills have been slashed.”
“But given the number of my constituents who have come to Australia and fled Sudan, who look at this crisis and weep and wonder and fear for the prospects of their family who they left behind, it is right that this parliament spends a few minutes focusing on this crisis, on this most grievous humanitarian disaster, which is unfurling before the eyes of the world and is not in my view getting enough attention from the world. Australia is doing its small bit but it is time to focus on the crisis in Sudan.”
“I'm grateful to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and the member for Cowan, Minister Anne Aly, for the statement she issued recently, and the work of the foreign minister, who updated our Labor caucus on this matter yesterday. This is a humanitarian crisis of the most unspeakable nature. I'm glad that our country, which is a long way away with limited ability to influence events in North Africa, is doing what it can.”
“Tens of thousands remain trapped in El Fasher with no food, very little water and no medical assistance. Before the final assault, the city held approximately 260,000 residents; now it's much fewer. The world is replete with humanitarian crises. Some are getting a lot of attention and they deserve it, but this crisis deserves more attention. I'm very grateful to the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, the member for Kingsford Smith and Assistant Minister Julian Hill, who recently met with my constituents who are representatives of the Zaghawa union, who I am in regular contact with, who have lost contact with relatives and now do not know if their brothers, sisters and cousins are alive or dead. Tragically, in far too many instances, they are almost certainly dead—but they are unable to make contact.”
“Last time I rose for a constituency statement, I raised the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and Darfur and I'm afraid I have to do so again because, despite hopes the situation would improve, the situation has gotten much, much worse. Since I last spoke in the House, the city of El Fasher has fallen to the RSF, and there are reports of the most unspeakable humanitarian crisis unfolding. Since this dispute began in 2023, conservatively 150,000 people have been killed. It is highly likely to be a much bigger number than that. The number of people currently suffering acute hunger is akin to the population of our country. Around 25 million people are estimated to be undergoing acute hunger. Recently, with the fall of El Fasher, 65,000 people fled the city immediately.”
“They rail against renewable energy and campaign against it, when people who actually understand how the economy works, like Rio, support renewable energy and enter into contracts with the very projects that those members opposite campaign against. They are so out of touch with the economic reality of Australia in 2025, they have to misquote Australia's biggest employers. Just a few moments ago, they were laughing at the chief executives of the Australian Industry Group and Business Council of Australia, and saying, 'What would they know about the economy?' Those geniuses who sit behind the Leader of the Opposition know better than the Business Council and the Australian Industry Group about business and industry! I think that tells us a lot.”
“The opposition are the ones who are so desperate that they actually have to cut a sentence halfway to make their case. Rio runs more than one smelter. They also run a smelter in Gladstone, and that smelter is safe. One of the reasons that that smelter is safe is that they have been able to enter into contracts with renewable energy providers—that's why. And of interest perhaps to the House is that some of the renewable energy contracts that the Gladstone smelter has entered into are with Smoky Creek solar farm and another solar farm in the area, Upper Calliope Solar Farm. As well as being the two solar farms that Rio has entered into arrangements with, do you know what else they've got in common? The member for Flynn opposed them both and publicly campaigned against both of them. This is the hypocrisy of those opposite.”
“I thank the honourable member for his question and I thank him for quoting the Rio chief executive officer. I think it would have been better, however, if he'd not stopped mid-sentence in that quote. The member for Page read out part of the quote. Mr Dozol said, 'Unfortunately, all market proposals received so far show future energy prices are not commercially viable'—but there's not a full stop in the quote; there's a comma. He goes on to say, 'and there is significant uncertainty about when renewable projects will be available at the scale we need.' The point is that Rio and Tomago are arguing for more renewables, not less. They are not blaming renewables. They're calling for us to do more, and we agree with them. The opposition are the ones out of touch.”
“The leader of the Nats said that one of the ways we can reduce emissions is to build new coal-fired power stations. The leader of the Nats says that was Page. Well, he did refer to the Page report, which was the National Party report that he called 'crucial'. To justify this, the Page report says: Independent modelling by Arche Energy found that an ultra-supercritical coal plant could supply electricity … Now, when I look at this independent modelling, what does it say? The report by Arche Energy says: This report is written solely for the benefit of Coal Australia. That's what the independent modelling is—solely for the benefit of Coal Australia—and they assume a coal price of $40 to $60 when actually the coal price is over $100. I might assume I'll look like George Clooney next year, but it doesn't mean it's going to happen.”
“They can schedule their dishwasher or washing machine to operate free of charge in the middle of the day. These are important, meaningful reforms that put Australians more in charge and deliver cost-of-living relief. That's what real reform looks like—important reforms to ensure that consumers are put first. The member asked me what threats there would be and what an unreliable source of energy would be. We know, of course, that the most unreliable source of energy in the Australian grid at the moment is coal fired power, with coal-fired power stations breaking down all the time. We've had some revelations from those opposite in recent days—not only about net zero but about the National Party announcing that they support building new coal-fired power stations.”
“We can do this because 4.2 million Australian houses have rooftop solar, which means there's plenty of cheap and often negative-price power in the system during the day, and that has not been passed on to consumers as much as we would like. So we will require energy companies to offer this. Think about the opportunities for someone working from home, for example. People working from home will always have the support of this side of the House. Those people will be able to shift their energy use, in some instances, to the middle of the day and know it is for free with no charge coming. Or think about a retired couple, a pensioner couple, living at home who can know that, between maybe 12 and three, their energy will be free. Or think about someone with an app that can control their power.”
“I thank my honourable friend for the question and thank her for everything she does representing her community so well. I'm pleased to inform the House that 110,022 Australian households have now taken up the Albanese government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program, up around 2,000 since yesterday—Australians getting on with the job of reducing their emissions and their bills. But, of course, we know that there's much more to do, and that's why today the Albanese government has announced our latest reforms to energy pricing in Australia, particularly the introduction of Solar Sharer, which will see a compulsion on energy companies to deliver an option for their consumers in default market offer states of having a free power period in the middle of the day.”
“Treasury has modelled this and found that the emissions reduction possible internationally, using Australian know-how and Australian resources, is equivalent to 1.2 per cent of world emissions, which is a big number: around 460 million tonnes. So this is a great opportunity for our country if we seize those opportunities—if we seize them. If we ignore them, those opportunities to create jobs and wealth as we help the rest of the world decarbonise will be missed forever.”
“What the honourable member is doing is raising other issues around scope 3 international emissions in other countries, which he's entitled to do, but I'd make this point: our obligation is to reduce our own emissions and work with other countries to help them reduce their emissions, not to come at it in some other way. That's why we embark on the policies we do. But I do agree with the honourable gentleman in this regard: a massive opportunity we have, if we seize the economic opportunities of net zero, is to help other countries decarbonise through a future made in Australia. Whether it be through green metals, ammonium or green hydrogen, these are the opportunities.”
“I thank the honourable member for his question. I note that the government supported the reference of the ICJ case that was commenced by Vanuatu. I also note that we considered the Climate Change Authority's advice on our recent nationally determined contribution. The Climate Change Authority, indeed, considered the ICJ decision in weighing up their advice to the government under our world's-best-practice climate change target-setting regime. Their advice to us was to set the maximum possible level of ambition, which is advice that, of course, the government accepted.”
“The member knows that the people of Gilmore have taken up the scheme with some great enthusiasm, but I have to say it is not a podium finish anymore in New South Wales, because the electorate with the highest take-up of cheaper home batteries in all of New South Wales is Page. Second, we have Richmond. Coming in a very strong third in the trifecta is the member for Riverina, who has the third-highest take-up of cheaper home batteries in all of Australia. I know it warms his heart to see his constituents taking up the opportunities of cleaner, more reliable, cheaper energy.”
“I thank my honourable friend for her question, and what a champion job she does in representing the interests of regional Australians and rural Australians in this House, representing the aspirations of those on that beautiful part of the south coast of New South Wales. The honourable member for Gilmore knows that people in regional Australia are taking up the opportunities for cheaper and more reliable energy, particularly through the Albanese government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which, I am pleased to inform the House today, has now been taken up by 108,494 Australian households. Increasingly, we see a heavy representation from rural and regional Australia in those figures.”
“We have nine out of the 10 minerals necessary to make a battery in our country. We think that's a good thing, and we want to see more of those minerals exploited and more value added in Australia. We want to see batteries made in Australia and minerals processed in Australia. That's our vision; your vision is stuck in your 10 years of denial and delay, while you're arguing tomorrow about whether climate change is real and whether humankind has anything to do with it and whether governments should even bother to try. That's why you are out of office now. You are showing the Australian people continually that you are not fit for modern government in Australia.”
“I thank the honourable member for the question. I'm sure the Chamber of Minerals and Energy and the honourable member support everything this government has done in recent weeks to support the mining industry in Australia and critical minerals in the great state of Western Australia, with the Prime Minister's leadership and the leadership of the Minister for Resources. They're engaging in proper international diplomacy, engaging in proper interactions with our key trading partners. That's what a future made in Australia looks like; proper investments and a proper calibration of industry and energy policy, as well as foreign and trade policy, to ensure that our great critical minerals that have so much capacity to power not only Australia but also the rest of the world—we have a periodic table of minerals under our earth.”
“We are transitioning this economy and this energy system to make it fit for the future, while those opposite are stuck in their denial and delay.”
“They will be having their big meeting, their big love-in, their big briefing about net zero. We had a contribution overnight from the former Treasurer, energy minister, home affairs minister, health minister and industry minister of the Morrison government in one LinkedIn post by Scott Morrison, saying that they should move away from net zero. This just shows us that the Liberal Party hasn't changed. The man who stood at this dispatch box and held up a lump of coal is now telling them that it's okay to move away from net zero. They haven't learnt. They haven't got the memo from the Australian people or from the 104,000 households that are getting on with the job. I'm sure another thousand households tomorrow and another thousand households on Monday will install a cheaper home battery with support from the Albanese Labor government.”
“He said that his approach as energy minister would be to sweat the coal assets for longer and he called for us to keep the coal-fired power stations working harder and longer, apparently unaware that as of today there are 11 separate coal-fired power units out of action, broken down, not working—3.6 gigawatts. These are unreliable units. They are now the biggest threat to reliability in our energy system, and those opposite want to see them working longer and harder. We want to see appropriate investment to see them replaced, to see them in due course, in an orderly transition, replaced with new energy for the future, so that those communities that have powered Australia for so long can power us into the future. Of course it's a big day for the opposition tomorrow.”
“Again, I'll update the House on AEMO's quarterly figures, which were released today, that show the highest renewable penetration in quarter 3 in Australian history and energy prices down 27 per cent, year on year, and 38 per cent, quarter on quarter, in a wholesale term. This is good progress. It is good step forward, with much more to do. The member for Griffith asked me what policies might threaten this progress. Of course, we've been seeing a lot of them over the course of this week. The member for Wannon released a bit of a policy update in the House during the week.”
“I thank my honourable friend for the question. It was of course in her now electorate that the Prime Minister and I announced the Cheaper Home Batteries policy during the recent federal election campaign. It was a great day—although the member for Griffith and I were both wearing Cheaper Home Batteries T-shirts, and the combination of renewable energy and a T-shirt would be particularly triggering for the Leader of the Opposition! But I digress. I am happy to report to the House that, since we announced that policy, 104,900 Australians have introduced a cheaper home battery into their house or their small business. That's 104,900 households and small businesses that are reducing their bills and their emissions. It's a similar story across the country.”
“Yes, I am aware it is 2025. I'm not entirely sure the National Party is. I'm also aware that there are considerable pressures in our energy system, as there are around the world. I'm aware that the AEMO quarterly energy dynamics report released today, which is a welcome progress report, shows wholesale prices are down 27 per cent year on year and 38 per cent quarter on quarter. I see this as good progress with much more to do. It is no coincidence that the quarterly report, which showed a 38 per cent reduction in wholesale prices, also shows the highest renewable penetration for that quarter in Australian history. This is a sign of progress. We have never said that there isn't a lot more to do. We haven't said that there aren't pressures in the system.”
“The reality is that we will focus on ourselves.' I always try and find a bipartisan note at the dispatch box, as is well known, and I agree entirely with the leader of the National Party! They are focused on themselves. They are not focused on the Australian people. They are not focused on the economic opportunities that Australia sees in net zero. They are not focused on reducing bills for Australians in the outer suburbs and regions of this country. They are focused on their internal politics. It's the National Party interests, not the national interest. They are focused on themselves, and they continue to be.”
“This side of the House is unified in our approach to reducing emissions in our pathway to net zero, and in our determination to provide cost-of-living relief to Australians as we do so. In the meantime, those opposite have been having a completely normal one over the parliamentary break. We've had the member for New England do the National Party the greatest service he's ever given them by announcing he's leaving. He might be off to One Nation. A former leader of a federal political party going to One Nation—what could possibly go wrong? We've never seen that before! It could be said they deserve each other. The leader of the National Party responded to this. He said: 'Well, we won't be focused on Barnaby Joyce if he goes to another party. We'll be focused on ourselves. I don't think Australians like people who change their parties.”