Mr KENNEDY (Cook) (15:42): Thank you to the member for Deakin. That was like a mini Chris Bowen: just as fast and just as divorced from reality. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ): I will remind the member for Cook to use correct titles. Mr KENNEDY: Sorry, the mini energy minister. He's just as fast and just as divorced from reality. Perhaps a bit less well-read. I think the member for Deakin just said that the reason we've had higher electricity prices is the former coalition government. Is that right? Mr Gregg: Nine years. Mr KENNEDY: Nine years. Why is it, then, that coming into the 2022 election, your side of politics promised 97 times that bills would go down by $275? Mr Gregg: That line worked for three years. Mr KENNEDY: It worked. That line worked for three years. We've heard it here, Australia! The member for Deakin just said, 'That line worked for three years.' They've been repeating a lie. They say the coalition is the reason prices went up. But, before the 2022 election, they stood in front of you 97 times and said prices would go down by $275. Well, there are only two explanations for that. There are only two explanations: either you have no idea how energy markets work, or you do and you lied to the Australian public anyway. Which one is it? The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ): Excuse me. Mr KENNEDY: Sorry for the humour. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ): You know the standing orders around the use of that particular word. Withdraw and rephrase. Mr KENNEDY: I withdraw, and I'll rephrase. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ): Thank you. Mr KENNEDY: One of two things must be true. You either have no idea, none whatsoever, about how energy markets work, or you do and the opposition lied anyway. Which one is it? They're awfully quiet now! You could hear a pin drop in the chamber, because it's embarrassing. And you know what? What is happening is people in my electorate are living it. Just last week, I was out at FJP Manufacturing. This is a business—we have a few manufacturing businesses clinging to life in Cook. They have seen their gas and electricity prices both up by over 70 per cent in the last two years. As I said—and the energy minister liked to clip me up about this—you don't really care about TAFE. Do you know what's happening to people? They took seven apprentices three years ago— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Cook, I'm taking a point of order, I presume, from the Chief Government Whip. Ms Ryan: Yes, point of order, Deputy Speaker. The member persists directing his responses not through you but at people on this side of the chamber. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will remind the member for Cook that, in an effort to depersonalise these debates, we have the standing order that directs the comments through me, so please— Mr KENNEDY: I withdraw, and I'll adjust. FJP Manufacturing's bills are up 76 per cent. They had seven apprentices just at the start of the last term of government. They're down to three apprentices, and they're worried it's going to zero. These people employ 50 people in my electorate. Phill is the guy who runs the show there. He works incredibly hard bending metal, doing powder coatings and supplying businesses all throughout Sydney. Yet they are being crushed under energy prices. Only three weeks ago, I was out at Kareela shops, meeting a chicken shop provider there that's had its energy prices more than double. Just yesterday, I received an email from someone in my electorate screenshotting their bill. What did they screenshot in their bill? Even though they had solar, their home bill had more than doubled. Their rate per kilowatt hour had tripled. This is the reality Australians are living with. So, when those on the other side stand up here and tell us, 'Oh, yes, the only reason we have electricity prices up is the coalition,' it's clearly not true. Why are these lies being peddled? Because it's a vulnerability. It is a vulnerability, and it's going to get worse. Why do we know this? Because we're seeing the bodies pile up—Whyalla steelworks bankrupt, Tomago about to be bankrupt and Mount Isa smelter bankrupt. The CEOs of BlueScope Steel, Cadbury and Mars are all coming in and saying that manufacturing and industry are at a crossroads, and they risk going offshore. The CEO of BHP said that in Australia energy costs are two to three times those of comparable economies. BlueScope Steel said our gas prices are three to four times those of the US. The bodies are piling up, and it's not pretty. Guess who's holding the gun? It's the energy minister of Australia. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: A point of order from the assistant minister? Dr Leigh: The allegation of violence by the member for Cook at the end of his speech was entirely inappropriate and utterly unparliamentary, and I ask you to ask him to withdraw. Mr Kennedy: It was a metaphor, but, to assist the House, I withdraw. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I appreciate that. I give the call to the member for Forde.