Get Involved - Parliament

Cost of Living and Energy Prices

Published on: September 2024

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-145447

Cost of Living and Energy Prices

Ms TRISH DOYLE (Blue Mountains) (17:00:51):

I move:

That this House:

(1)Supports more reliable, affordable and renewable energy to reduce energy prices for New South Wales homes and businesses.

(2)Condemns the Liberal-Nationals' privatisation of New South Wales's electricity system.

(3)Supports the additional $100 million that the New South Wales Government is investing in energy rebates to assist households with the cost of living.

The Minns Labor Government is taking action to reduce the cost-of-living pressures faced by the people of New South Wales and address the cost of electricity bills. That is why the Government is implementing Labor's energy plan. It is increasing the supply of low-cost renewable energy in the system so that New South Wales households and businesses have access to the reliable energy they need. In the meantime, this year the Government is investing an additional $100 million to boost a range of energy rebates to support households with their bills. This financial year the Government is providing a total of $435 million to give rebates on energy bills to support eligible families, seniors, low-income households and those living with medical conditions. Those rebates are on top of the $300 energy relief payment provided by the Albanese Labor Government.

Labor's energy plan stands in stark contrast to the record of Opposition members. While Government members want to build new renewable energy projects, Opposition members are obsessed with flogging them off. The Liberal Party and The Nationals are the parties of privatisation. The previous Coalition Government privatised three of New South Wales's network businesses and six coal-fired power stations in only four years. In fact, the previous Government sold at least $72 billion in public assets across New South Wales and handed up the largest debt in our State's history, on track for a record $187 billion when Labor came to government. Government members know that keeping public assets in the hands of the public is good for the budget. But the previous Government gave away the shop.

Just before it finally committed to a renewable energy policy, the Coalition flogged off many of the companies that are most critical to achieve an orderly transition of our electricity system. That made the energy transition in New South Wales much harder. But the Labor Government is getting on with the job of delivering more affordable energy for the people of New South Wales. We are actually implementing the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, not just talking about it. In New South Wales, 35 per cent of our energy is already powered by renewables, almost half of the 12 gigawatts of renewable generation we seek by 2030 is locked in, and a quarter of the long duration storage target has been secured. The Government has partnered with the Commonwealth to support more large-scale renewable energy projects and increase the ambition of the road map.

NSW Consumer Energy Strategy - Powering our people and communities

It has established the Energy Security Corporation, which will invest $1 billion in critical storage and reliability projects, because a reliable energy system is essential to keep the lights on and avoid price hikes. The Government has just released the new , which lays out a plan to supercharge the energy transition by helping households and small businesses reduce their power bills, increase energy efficiency and contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions. The Government is putting households and small businesses at the centre of this work and backing it with $290 million. Energy bills are one of the largest costs for households. I cannot overstate the importance of this work for mums and dads, renters and those living alone. The strategy lays out the pathway for people to use less energy and pay less to heat or cool their homes and run their appliances by taking up energy-saving technologies, including rooftop solar, household batteries, heat pumps and energy efficiency measures.

These upgrades help everyone. The more we install at a household level, the less large-scale infrastructure we need to build. That means lower costs for all. We know that increasing the supply of renewable energy takes time. We know also that New South Wales families are doing it tough right now. That is why the Government is investing $435 million this financial year to help ease the cost of electricity bills, including a boost of $100 million to increase the value of energy bill rebates to assist households with the cost of living. The Low Income Household Rebate and Medical Energy Rebate will now deliver $350 per year, a $65 increase from last year. The Family Energy Rebate and the Seniors Energy Rebate will now deliver $250 per year, a $70 increase from last year. The NSW Gas Rebate provides up to $110 per year off gas bills. The Life Support Energy Rebate will increase by 22 per cent for each piece of equipment for people who need to use approved energy-intensive life support equipment at home. A few of those constituents who live in my electorate of Blue Mountains are very pleased.

Those increases come on top of the Commonwealth energy bill relief of $300 for every household and $325 for small businesses, which this Government is helping to deliver. Labor's plan is to support more renewable energy—the lowest cost form of energy—to replace our ageing coal-fired power stations, and place families, renters, seniors and small business owners at the centre of its efforts. Whether it is helping someone put solar on their roof, buy a home battery, charge their EV to reduce petrol costs or increase their energy rebate, this Government has the backs of the people of New South Wales.

Mr JAMES GRIFFIN (Manly) (17:07:38):

I make a contribution to the public interest debate. I move:

That the motion be amended by omitting paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting instead:

(2)Notes the Minns Labor Government has bungled the rollout of the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone.

(3)Notes the ongoing industrial action from the Electrical Trades Union [ETU] is delaying the delivery of significant energy infrastructure like the Snowy Hydro Gas Power Station.

(4)Calls on the Premier and Minister for Industrial Relations to step up, invoke section 424 of the Fair Work Act and put an end to the ETU's industrial chaos.

We are once again debating another ill-conceived public interest debate motion. Last week we talked about the transport oriented development zones, while the member for Riverstone went white in the background. It is good that he is back in the Chamber today, ready to talk about energy and the cost of living—two issues that people want answers on from this Government. The political reality is that the more time goes by, the less people want to hear about what this Government has to say about the previous one.

Mr Nathan Hagarty:

Point of order—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

The Clerk will stop the clock while I hear the point of order from the member for Leppington.

Mr Nathan Hagarty:

My point of order relates to the amendment moved by the member for Manly and whether it is relevant to the substantive motion. If it is, I believe it contradicts the motion and creates a direct negative.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

I believe the amendment is related to the original motion, but I will consult the Clerk and think about it very carefully. I thank the member for Leppington for bringing the matter to my attention.

Mr JAMES GRIFFIN:The Daily Telegraph

All people hear are excuses when what they want are answers to their pressing issues on the cost of living and energy. But there is no vision or agenda. This is a mediocre government paralysed by mediocrity, but it does have its energy rebates. I refer members to an investigation done by into energy rebates around Australia. It looked at every State and Territory and found:

The most egregious example identified in our investigation is in NSW, where an energy rebate worth up to $250 annually went to just 11 per cent of eligible households.

That means about 400,000 families qualify for support in this State and about 45,000 of them received it last year. Let us hope history does not repeat itself when it comes to energy rebates. Then Labor has its battery program, which for all intents and purposes is a good program. But, curiously, I note that it was announced the day after the Government revealed that it was going to keep Australia's largest coal-fired power station burning into the future. It has to get out there and say something.

Within days of this program being announced, the Smart Energy Council had to call a crisis meeting of 150 of its members because there was zero industry consultation. The result of that bumbled and hastily announced program is that solar businesses are against the wall. The public interest debate raises the issue of renewable energy. Why on earth would the Government raise renewable energy? Since becoming the Opposition, the Coalition has worked constructively and collaboratively with the Government and has supported legislation. I am reminded of the comments of the former shadow Minister for Energy in the lead-up to the last election. He said:

Our policy development will reflect our desire to build on the Roadmap and accelerate delivery.

…

Labor's chief concern is that, after more than two years, the Coalition's Roadmap appears to have stagnated.

I have news for the Government: On its watch, last year New South Wales had the largest gap between its 2030 emissions reduction goals and the present pace of the renewables rollout. In addition to that, New South Wales is one of the worst States for renewable energy approvals in the entire country. The reason that only 11 per cent of eligible households received that energy rebate, that the battery program led to a crisis meeting of the Smart Energy Council and that New South Wales is one of the worst States for renewable energy planning approvals is not privatisation. It is this New South Wales Labor Government at work. It is an unimaginative government drowning in promises that it is unable to keep, with commitments it cannot deliver and plans it cannot implement.

Finally, when it comes to the cost of living and supporting small businesses across the State, businesses in New South Wales pay well above the national average in payroll tax—in fact, $2,688 in payroll tax per staff member. The previous Coalition Government raised the payroll tax threshold to $1.2 million in 2021. We supported calls for small businesses—not big, small—in this State to raise it to $1.3 million and drop the rate below 5 per cent. But those calls fell on the deaf ears of Mookhey and Minns because, as I said, this is an unimaginative government drowning in promises that it cannot keep, commitments it cannot deliver and plans it simply cannot implement.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

Before I call the member for Riverstone, I have consulted with the Clerk and I believe the refence in the Opposition amendment to the Electrical Trades Union is a little far removed from the discussion on energy privatisation. I suggest that the Opposition rewrite the amendment and move it later in the debate. I am trying to be fair, but the amendment is a bit of a stretch.

Mr WARREN KIRBY (Riverstone) (17:14:41):

I contribute to the public interest debate and support the motion moved by my colleague the member for Blue Mountains. This Labor Government is committed to delivering affordable energy to families, affordable renewable energy for those finding it difficult to pay their energy bills. As the State's existing coal-fired power stations are retiring within the next 15 years, the need to secure a new basis of economic prosperity as we shift away from existing forms of energy is imperative. That is a job made even more difficult because of the privatisation agenda of the electricity system by the Opposition. Only a Labor government is committed to a truly holistic target. The Government will prioritise cheaper energy to provide relief for families, as well as cleaner energy, which is the only way forward.

The Government's pursuit of abundant renewable energy will become the economic base of our great State. It will be foundational in a more diversified economy for New South Wales, and it starts with replacing our ageing coal-fired stations, which is well underway. The Government's commitment is clear to the people of New South Wales. The State has the technology, and we know what we need to build, how much we need and where we need it. Most importantly, we are already doing it. Thirty-five per cent of our energy is already powered by renewables. A quarter of the long duration storage target has also been secured, with more coming through our planning system. The Government is committed not only to consumers but also to workers. Cheaper power will be key to revitalising the New South Wales manufacturing sector. Lower electricity costs incentivise firms to produce in New South Wales, creating secure local employment for communities across the State. That extends to small businesses, which will spend less on power bills and more on employing people.

Across the board, Labor's charge on lowering energy costs will power the New South Wales economy, reducing the cost of living, bolstering employment, driving local business and creating new export opportunities. Let us not forget about the communities that will be central to the State's shift. The Government knows the transition does not come without a cost to landowners and regional communities. That is why the Government has boosted compensation and is delivering additional benefits to fund the communities residing within renewable energy zones. The Government knows that its plan is a long-term one. It knows that residents are facing the burdens of cost‑of‑living pressures now. That is why it is investing $435 million dollars this financial year in energy bill relief. Labor is committed to delivering cheaper and cleaner energy.

In the transition, the Government is delivering relief to those who need it now. That is in stark contrast to Liberal Party members opposite and their privatisation love affair. The people of Riverstone know that firsthand. My community is struggling to pay the bills because of the decisions made by those opposite in selling off critical public assets for a quick penny. One need only look at the impact that living in the most tolled city on the planet is having on the residents of Western Sydney. Every time a public asset is sold to private enterprises, profit always comes before people. Privatisation leads to poorer service delivery for the people of New South Wales. Despite that, those opposite privatised three network businesses and six coal-fired power stations in just four years. They are responsible for making the transition harder. They are responsible for the exorbitant costs that consumers and businesses alike are facing alike.

Where Labor sees service delivery, the Coalition sees a way to fund its poor economic management. Regardless of whether we are looking at roads, buses or health care, the Liberals have never seen a public asset they did not want to sell. I reaffirm my support for the motion. As vice-president of the North West Business Chamber, I have seen a 300 per cent increase in those needing emergency support because of economic pressures, which are largely because of the decisions made by the previous Government through its obsession with selling off the silverware of the State. In stark contrast to that, we are committed to supporting the people of New South Wales who are finding it tough now with targeted energy bill relief. We are moving towards renewable energy; we are moving towards an energy system that will establish this great State not only now but into the future. We have a plan, and we will deliver.

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (17:19:37):

I thank the member for Blue Mountains for bringing this public interest debate. We on this side are excited that we get to live through a world with a Labor government at both the State and Federal level and we get to keep having people carping on about the problems of the people sitting on this side of the House in delivering outcomes for the people of New South Wales and Australia. I say to members that there is a cost-of-living crisis. It is not just a speech that the member for Riverstone can read out which someone else has written for him. There is a legitimate cost-of-living crisis happening across this State and this country. The member for Riverstone should be aware that he has a slim margin—a much slimmer one than mine—so maybe he should think about that before he gets arrogant and obnoxious about sitting in government every day.

Mr Steve Whan:

Point of order—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

The member for North Shore will resume her seat. The member for Monaro rises on a brief point of order.

Mr Steve Whan:

Madam Deputy Speaker, I ask that the member opposite be instructed to stop using words like "arrogant and obnoxious". The member should withdraw those reflections on other people. She often comes into this Chamber with a glass jaw. The member should stop flinging those words around.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

I ask the member for North Shore to withdraw the words. The member will return to the leave of the motion.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

I withdraw those words today if the member for Riverstone is feeling upset about them. I note that they are not considered unparliamentary language. They are used in this place every day; being a newer member, he may not be aware of that. If I have offended him, I deeply apologise for doing so. But we should all be cautious about being arrogant or obnoxious in this place with the presumption that we will be returned every single time. The people of New South Wales make that decision, not the people sitting on the Government benches.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

Government members will come to order.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

The people of New South Wales are suffering every day under the weight of this oppressive Labor Government. Those opposite have been in power for 18 months and they have still failed to deliver anything to improve the lives of the people across this State. The Federal Labor Government has been in power for 2½ years. People say, "It's not easy under Albanese." I do not have an excellent rhyming phrase but it is pretty damn hard under the Albanese Government when people across this country are suffering every day under the failed energy policies and failed cost-of-living policies of Federal and New South Wales Labor.

I will not be lectured by the member for Riverstone in his pre-prepared speech, which someone in the Minister's office has handed to him, who pretends that he has a comprehension of the challenges faced by people in the real world who are struggling to pay their electricity bills. It is the Labor Government members who have failed to deliver outcomes for the people of New South Wales. They may like to talk about how they are in government, but they do not act like it. They do not take responsibility for being in government. They do not actually pass legislation that will achieve outcomes for them in government. They do not set the policies that will achieve outcomes for the people of New South Wales. All they do is condemn, complain and make excuses. When the Liberal‑Nationals were in government, we had an extensive and bipartisan approach to energy reform. The Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap was supported—

Mr Steve Whan:

You just didn't get it done.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

The member for Monaro was not a member of Parliament then, so maybe he should not comment. We were perfectly capable of having a cross‑partisan approach—

Ms Maryanne Stuart:

Point of order—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

The member for North Shore will resume her seat. I will hear the point of order taken by the member for Heathcote.

Ms Maryanne Stuart:

I ask that the member for North Shore direct her comments through the Chair and not speak directly to Government members.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

Government members will listen to the member in silence and not rise to the bait. I ask the member for North Shore to direct her comments through the Chair.

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

The member for Heathcote is correct, and I thank her for the reminder. I am glad that she has read the standing orders. Madam Deputy Speaker, I will address my comments through the Chair. The issue is that a number of Labor members do not seem to realise they are in government. I remember when Labor was in government last time, and the people of New South Wales have certainly not forgotten when those opposite were in government last time. The rank hypocrisy of the Labor Party to come in here and complain about Liberals and Nationals privatising assets. Madam Deputy Speaker will remember that at the last minute before the 2011 election Labor prorogued the Parliament to force through the gentraders transactions and initiated the electricity privatisations that started the challenges the people of New South Wales are now facing. Labor members may be smug, but the cost-of-living crisis and energy prices crisis started when Labor privatised the gentraders in New South Wales. Labor is in government at both levels and still refuses to take responsibility to deal with this crisis for the people of New South Wales and Australia.

Ms DONNA DAVIS (Parramatta) (17:24:44):

I mirror the member for Blue Mountains' motion asking that the House supports more reliable, affordable and renewable energy to reduce energy prices for New South Wales homes and businesses; condemns the Liberal-Nationals Government privatisation of New South Wales' electricity system; and supports the additional $100 million that the New South Wales Government is investing in energy rebates to assist households with the cost of living. If we want to talk about arrogance in this place, I suggest that that is demonstrated when a member of the debating team leaves before the debate is finished.

Last week the member for Blue Mountains and I were at a well-attended event. It was the Minister's launch of the New South Wales Consumer Energy Strategy. That event was well attended because industry, the business sector and the wider community acknowledge that that Minns Labor Government strategy lays out practical ways to supercharge the energy transition across New South Wales by helping households and small businesses to reduce their power bills, increase energy efficiency and contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions. We are putting households and small businesses at the centre of this work and backing them in with a $290 million investment. The plan looks at ways of enabling further technology, such as using heat pump water systems, batteries and electric vehicles, as well as energy efficiency measures.

Since my household invested in a heat pump water system and a battery, I have not been able to get my husband off the monitoring app. He is constantly checking to see the flow of energy, the bits of power going from our solar panels to the battery and then to the grid. Our Government is making it possible for even more households to have the same enjoyment that my husband has. They can also have this great investment and make these incredible savings. Across New South Wales, a typical house could save $2,000 a year on average and reduce 1,100 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions with energy-saving technologies. The plan has 50 clear actions that are focused on a holistic approach. The strategy is about harnessing community enthusiasm and providing cost‑of‑living relief. We know that is not what the other guys were focused on. No siree. The previous Liberal Government privatised three network businesses and six coal-fired power stations in just four years.

Mr Kevin Anderson:

Yes siree.

Ms DONNA DAVIS:

I am so glad those opposite have not fallen asleep. Just before finally committing to a renewable energy policy, the Coalition flogged off many of the companies that are most critical to achieving an orderly transition of our electricity system. That has made the energy transition in New South Wales much harder. Other States like Queensland own their coal-fired power stations and have control overall when they exit the system. But New South Wales does not have the levers that other States have because the Liberals sold off those assets. Thanks to those on the other side, our State fell behind.

Luckily for the people of the State, our Minns Labor Government is focused with laser-like vision—just like Minister Park—and is taking action. The Government is working to increase the supply of renewable energy. It takes time. In the meantime, we know that New South Wales families are doing it tough, so we are taking action and investing $435 million this financial year to help ease the cost of electricity bills. Because, yes, we do live in Western Sydney. We do understand the experiences that people are facing with their cost‑of‑living pressures. We do have members who live across regional New South Wales.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

The member for Tamworth and the member from Dubbo will listen to the member for Parramatta in silence.

Ms DONNA DAVIS:

Members of the Labor Minns Government live in the regions, Western Sydney and across Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and the Hunter. They understand what people are going through. We are including a boost of $100 million to increase the value of energy bill rebates to assist households with the cost of living. The Low Income Household Rebate and Medical Energy Rebate will now deliver $350 a year, which is a $65 increase on last year, for low-income households. The Government has a plan to support more renewable energy and put people at the heart of its decisions. As the member for Blue Mountains said, whether it is putting solar on roofs, buying a home battery, charging a car or increasing energy rebates, the Government has got the backs of the people of New South Wales.

Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS (Dubbo) (17:29:44):

Today we have again heard about Labor's "energy plan". Right off the bat, I say it sounds more like a flop than a plan. The Opposition has revised its amendment. I move:

That the motion be amended by omitting paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting instead:

(2)Notes the Minns Labor Government has bungled the rollout of the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone and is putting pressure on affordable energy delivery in New South Wales and the cost of living.

(3)Notes the ongoing industrial action from the Electrical Trades Union is impacting the delivery of energy across New South Wales and impacting the cost of living.

It is hypocritical of those opposite to point the finger at the Coalition when the Labor Government is failing in every way when it comes to energy in this State. The power problems in New South Wales extend well beyond the threat of blackouts. In fact, this mob is reneging on its responsibility when it comes to renewables. The Government has completely bungled the rollout. If one wants proof of that, they can visit any regional community. It is all well and good for the member for Parramatta to talk about it, but nothing is impacting her. Any regional community—not so much Riverstone, but maybe the Blue Mountains—will tell you that consultation has gone out the window and that there has clearly not been enough. I have seen that firsthand in my electorate with the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone [REZ].

When people do not know what is going on and have not been taken on the journey, it creates angst. It is abundantly clear that we cannot keep going down the path that we are on because of this mob. We need to change direction and listen to the people who are living and working in those regions, such as the councils. There are currently 12.5 gigawatts of generation in planning—some of it in the build stage—for the Central‑West Orana REZ. That is four times the original plan and double what the aspirational target is. If I break that down, it is like jumping on the metro tomorrow morning and fitting 400 people into a carriage that is designed for 100 people. Everyone would be severely cramped and stressed. There is no control over what is happening in the carriage. When the train breaks down—which is inevitable—what happens then? That is the problem. When I ask the Government where things are up to, I cannot get a straight answer, which paints a concerning picture of exactly where it is heading.

If we combine all the renewable energy projects, add in the impact of transmission lines and then add the accommodation and other requirements, we start to get a feeling of the cumulative impact that is being felt in regional communities. It is pushing regional communities to breaking point. When talking about the capacity of the REZ growing, we are talking about a lot more land. As I said, it is already at four times the original plan. Let us think about what that means for people in regional areas. Regional residents are the ones who are currently being forced into this. It is being forced on them. It seems that we are no closer to solving the supply issue hanging over the State. There is significant responsibility for this at the Federal level as well. As part of his final report, former Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner Andrew Dyer was blunt in his assessment of the current renewables pathway. He said that random renewables development had to stop, and an orderly and transparent pipeline of viable projects is required—orderly, transparent and viable.

I could not agree more. A new commissioner has just been announced, and I look forward to catching up with Tony Mahar to talk about this subject in the near future to see where he thinks the Federal Government, which is also Labor, can get on board and help accelerate things in the right way rather than the wrong way. We know that renewable energy has a role to play and that it is an important part of the energy mix, but we also know that this mob is not capable. The Government needs to take control, not take credit for something that it has not delivered yet. The residents of New South Wales need reliable, affordable energy solutions, and that is on the Government. Those opposite must stop looking backwards and pointing the finger about something that they are now in control of. They have the ability to do something. We need to see that happen before there is irreversible damage to regional areas with very little to show for it.

Dr JOE McGIRR (Wagga Wagga) (17:34:52):Play School

I speak in support of the motion. I refer in particular to the impacts of privatisation on local communities and the experience in my electorate of Wagga Wagga. I am of course talking about Transgrid's HumeLink project, an alarming example of how a privatised monopoly provider can run roughshod over communities. It is a project without a shred of competition, because the Parliament privatised a monopoly provider and then set it to work under a regulator that was at arm's length from the Government in a system that is so opaque and difficult to understand that it makes bitcoin look like . At a time when we faced our greatest challenge in moving to renewable energy to save the planet, when we needed the best in electricity transmission for our distributed electricity production—the solar factories and the wind towers—what did we get? We got a regulatory system so complex that it would drive anyone mad to understand it; a system geared to providing the cheapest product, not the best; and a system without any regard for social licence.

That is what privatisation meant. In the case of Transgrid, the regulations were set up to make sure that the infrastructure was not gold plated. There were many discussions about how we cannot gold plate the infrastructure. For this project, the plating is not even tin. At a time when the State needed the best infrastructure, it got the cheapest. The cheapest option for the project is to overhead the powerlines, which means building huge towers and mile upon mile of overhead cables, which will march their way through farmland whether owners approve of it or not. Properties and lifestyles will be scarred by the enormous towers and transmission lines, and it will have an effect that will continue for generations. If quality, not simply the cheapest cost, was the priority, we could have undergrounded the powerlines and we would have a modern transmission system that, in the long run, is more effective, efficient and saves money. Under a privatised, complex, opaque system, where government lost control of the process, the State has ended up with the cheapest product it can get.

Social licence was not even part of the regulations in those days. One can see that in the way the community consultation took place on the project. Communities and landowners were treated appallingly. We were able to correct that, but not before it had taken a significant mental toll on the community. Thankfully, there has now been an acknowledgement that social licence matters. Even so, the system is broken. We talk about social licence and the regulator now admits that it will consider it. I reflect on the discussion around community benefits. There is a decision now to consider social licence and, therefore, the regulator can approve expenditure on community benefits. The regulator tells me that it cannot simply acknowledge community benefits; it has to wait for Transgrid to put a proposal forward on the community benefits, at which point the regulator can then approve it. For the community to get the benefits as part of the social licence, we have an unelected, privatised monopoly going to an unelected regulator.

Where is the community in that? Where is the Government in that? It is absolutely nowhere. There have been motions from both Houses of this Parliament to increase community benefits for those communities. To this point, the motions have gone unacknowledged and have essentially been ignored. For all intents and purposes, it looks like we have outsourced government, and that is a shame on this Parliament. The fact of the matter is that there are renewable energy zones in place. Those renewable energy zones were established partly as a result of the fact that the previous Government realised that it had lost control of supervision of the transmission infrastructure. Today members have made the point that those renewable energy zones are not working well. But the communities around those renewable energy zones have had more input and say than the people affected by the HumeLink project. Imagine that situation. The HumeLink project is an example of what happens as a result of thoughtless privatisation. It has been a curse to the community I represent and it is a dud deal for the State.

Ms JENNY LEONG (Newtown) (17:39:57):

By leave: On behalf of The Greens I contribute to the public interest debate to support the motion on energy privatisation and the cost of living moved by the member for Blue Mountains. I offer absolute recognition of and support for the first part of the motion, which calls for the House to support more reliable, affordable and renewable energy to reduce energy prices for New South Wales homes and businesses. I put on record that The Greens recognise that it is not okay that we endured over a decade of a Liberal-Nationals government that privatised every State asset that it possibly could—

Mr Matt Cross:

Asset recycling.

Ms JENNY LEONG:

—and spun it as asset recycling. After being re-elected, it is not enough for the New South Wales Labor Government to say that it is committed to no more privatisation. After so many assets have been privatised, it is not enough to say, "No more will be privatised under this Labor Government." The Greens put a challenge to the New South Wales Labor Government: If it is genuinely committed to the idea of affordable, sustainable, renewable and quality—to take the member for Wagga Wagga's point—energy delivery for the people of New South Wales, it should open a conversation about reversing the privatisation agenda that was delivered under the previous Government.

The Parliament needs to recognise that the only way that it can have full control over the delivery of energy in our communities that is renewable, affordable and meets community needs is to have it in public hands. As the member for Wagga Wagga pointed out, the moment essential public infrastructure and assets are privatised is the moment the community loses control and the profit motive of private providers and corporations drives the agenda over and above environmental and community impact and cost. Future generations will pay for the climate disaster and economic inequality that will result from a failure to reverse the privatisation agenda of the former Coalition Government. That is not a new conversation, as the Member for North Shore mentioned.

I refer now to the legacy and commitment of the late Greens upper House member John Kaye, who had an incredible agenda to outline the massive risks that privatisation would pose to our transition to a renewable energy future. The sale of the poles and wires and the dark days of the old New South Wales Labor Government going down the dangerous path of privatisation opened up this State to what Opposition members would call asset recycling and what we would call privatisation hell, and also made it harder for this State to transition to a renewable energy future. Once we outsource and privatise essential energy assets, the ability to transition and respond to climate action demands and renewable energy demands is limited as a result of the need to interact and negotiate with the private sector.

I appreciate that there is a cost-of-living crisis, and we have heard members talk about the impacts of the crisis on their communities. But let me be clear. If we ask any person in New South Wales about the biggest impact of the cost‑of‑living crisis on their weekly household budget, they will say that their largest weekly expense is housing, not energy. And yet New South Wales Labor is refusing to entertain the idea of an immediate rent freeze and Federal Labor is refusing to entertain the idea of a mortgage interest rate cut. If New South Wales Labor and Federal Labor want to deliver for the people of New South Wales, then they will start looking at the cost of housing as the real and biggest financial pressure on everyone that lives in this State.

Mr MATT CROSS:

I seek leave to contribute to the debate.

Leave not granted.

Ms TRISH DOYLE (Blue Mountains) (17:45:00):

In reply: I acknowledge all members who made contributions to the public interest debate. The member for Manly said that support via rebates is not going to the people who need it, but I say that he should go out and tell people about the relief that is available, stop the politicking and actually help his constituents. The member for Riverstone reminded us of the ramifications of the former Coalition Government's sale of public assets. I thank the member for North Shore for a very interesting contribution of elitist claptrap. The member had the gall to talk about arrogance and hypocrisy and to give us a history lesson. We must not forget that this is the member who could not remember where she lived during preselection. The member for Parramatta spoke about the energy rebates and the assistance that our Government is providing communities. The member for Dubbo is on record talking about the importance of the renewable energy zones in supporting jobs and driving investment right across our region and saying that they are going to unlock so much opportunity. You have been involved in pushing this, Dugald Saunders, and you should know that the transition is well underway.

Mr Adam Crouch:

Point of order—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

The Clerk will stop the clock.

Mr Adam Crouch:

Madam Deputy Speaker, I ask you to remind the member for Blue Mountains that she must refer to members in this place by their electorate and not by their name.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

I thank the member for Terrigal.

Ms TRISH DOYLE:

The member for Dubbo knows that the transition is well underway. Our Government has a great track record of giving credit where it is due. We are happy to give that to the Opposition, as we have done in the past. The Opposition had Labor's support, and now the Labor Government is delivering and implementing the ideas. Opposition members criticised the uptake of rebates. We give no thanks to them for confusing the rebates they left us with: six rebates with different application pathways. The Opposition has no clear energy policy. One minute it supports renewables; the next, nuclear. I acknowledge the member for Wagga Wagga, who reminded us of the impact of privatisation on our communities. We should never forget that. The member for Newtown reminded us of the years of asset recycling spin and, going to paragraph (1) of this important motion, the critical need for our communities to have reliable and affordable energy. The energy rebates will help to achieve that.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

The member for Blue Mountains has moved a motion, to which the member for Dubbo has moved an amendment. The question is that the amendment be agreed to.

The House divided.

Ayes29

Noes48

Majority19

Amendment negatived.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

The question is that the motion be agreed to.

The House divided.

Ayes48

Noes29

Majority19

Motion agreed to.