Reducing bills will be main focus of virtual gathering of the prime minister, premiers and chief ministers. Follow all the day’s news
Ears to the ground as national cabinet meeting approaches
The rumour mill is running hot ahead of national cabinet. Here’s some of what people have been saying.
During an interview with Patricia Karvelas this morning, the climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, said:
Well, I’ve confirmed that certainly people will see a reduction in their bills … The reduction will happen not in a handout, but when they get their bill. It’ll be baked into the bill.
The NSW government is leading the push for a rebate, which is believed to have in-principle backing of the Albanese government. The rebate in NSW could be worth as much as $280 for households.
The temporary rebate would be in addition to existing energy rebates already offered in NSW and Queensland for low-income households and are designed to cover the six to 12-month gap until price rises are projected to flatten under coal and gas price caps.
The future is renewable. Let’s be very blunt. Coal-fired power stations are going to close. That’s a statement of fact. We need to replace them. The transition to renewables has been too slow, and too disorderly.
The task here is to ensure that new energy comes on not after coal-fired power leaves, because that’s too late, but before.
What this is, is the safety net under this transition to ensure we have reliable energy.
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