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March 14, 2025
PETER FEGAN: Let's go to James Paterson, who was more than willing to jump on the line. Senator, a very good morning to you.
JAMES PATERSON: Good morning, Peter.
FEGAN: Does Christopher Bowen survive this? I know that the last thing you're thinking about is the Labor Party. But I think for the sake of Australians, the Prime Minister needs to do the right thing here. If anyone else is put into a role, Senator, and they fail, say Matt Stanton, He's the new CEO of Channel Nine. If he fails, guess what? He's gone. But unfortunately, in politics, we don't see people that fail out of their portfolio. I don't get it.
PATERSON: You're absolutely right, Peter. And the truth is that Anthony Albanese is surprisingly tolerant of incompetence from his ministers. We saw that with Andrew Giles and Clare O'Neil until, finally, it became too much. But what more does Chris Bowen need to do to get sacked? I mean, he and the Prime Minister promised before the last election that electricity bills would be $275 cheaper. And we now know that people in Queensland are paying up to $1,000 more for energy than Labor said they would. Yesterday, at his press conference, Chris Bowen said If Australians are unhappy with their electricity bills, they should shop around for a better deal.
FEGAN: Who has time, Senator?
PATERSON: Well, exactly. The good news is they do get to shop around for a better energy policy at the next election, and they can vote for lower prices at the next election under the Coalition.
FEGAN: What really did it for me yesterday, Senator, was the fact that he didn't take responsibility for it and then started blaming overseas markets. I mean, come on, this is the same bloke that said, hang on, solar is going to help, renewable energy is the way to go. Guess what, Senator? We're being told that poor production from solar energy is one of the reasons our bill is going up. I know coal is to blame as well but come on.
PATERSON: That's exactly right, Peter, and the government was warned pursuing a renewables-only policy would be a disaster. It would drive up prices. It would damage business and industry. It would drive jobs offshore. And Australian families and small businesses are paying the price for this ideological pursuit under the Labor Party. Now, we have a very different approach. We are technology agnostic. We'll have a balanced energy system that will include renewables and gas. And over time, we'll transition coal to emissions-free reliable nuclear power.
FEGAN: Senator, what will the Coalition do about this? Why should we trust you? Because Peter Dutton says he's unclear where the bills will come down. He says the Coalition will have a balanced and sensible energy system. But I've got to say, Senator, I think this whole we have a plan, we will reveal it thing is not going to wash any more with Australians. We need a clear plan because if the Coalition can't do it, then why should we vote either of you in?
PATERSON: I absolutely understand why Australians are frustrated about this, and we've actually put out quite a lot of detail about our energy policy already, particularly the transition…
FEGAN: But yeah, that's the transition though, Senator and just, sorry to butt in, that's the transition to nuclear. And you've given us a costings plan. But throughout all of the costings plan to go to nuclear, have you told us that our energy bill will come down by a price? You haven't. We need to know. We need to trust somebody here.
PATERSON: I hear you, Peter, and I hear listeners; I know why they are frustrated, but let's just talk about that modelling for a second. It shows that our plan will be 44% cheaper in independent modelling compared to Labor's renewables-only plan, so that means it will be cheaper under the Coalition compared to what people will be paying under Labor.
FEGAN: Okay, that's the nuclear plan. That's what, 30 years away. What about the immediate future? If you're voted in in two months time, can you tell my listeners this morning, Senator, in a yes or no definitive answer? Energy bills will come down under a Coalition government. Yes or no?
PATERSON: Well, the key to getting those energy prices down will be bringing more gas into the system.
FEGAN: So we can't say yes or no, though, Senator, we can't say yes or no?
PATERSON: We do have a plan to bring more gas in the system, and that will push prices down compared to what they would have been under Labor. And we will have more to say about that in the coming weeks, I don't want to announce that on your program.
FEGAN: No, that's fine. And I understand that. And I'll question Peter Dutton about this. And I've got to say, I've got to say, Senator, the Coalition's plan has been quite smart. It has been. But what I'm getting at is you haven't had an opportunity to put that in yet because you've not been voted back in. What Australians want is cheaper energy. And Senator, let's be brutally honest. We live in one of the most energy rich countries in the world, and the cold, hard reality is we are paying more than anyone else in the world for energy. It boggles the mind, doesn't it? I mean, I just can't I can't figure it out.
PATERSON: You're right, Peter; we're an energy and resource-rich country. We should have among the most competitive and affordable energy prices in the world. But this ideological, renewables-only policy pursued by the government has done the opposite of that. As you say, we're now paying among the highest energy prices in the world. And at a time when the global economy is uncertain, when the strategic environment is deteriorating, we need to be as competitive as possible. And a key part of that is affordable energy. You know, the government talks about a future made in Australia. We won't be making anything in Australia if they get re-elected, if they have another three years to drive up energy prices even further, shipping jobs and prosperity overseas.
FEGAN: Can you believe, though, that it was some 96 times that Anthony Albanese stood up in front of Australians and promised the bills would go down by $275? In stark contrast, up a grand, Senator.
PATERSON: Well exactly right. And I think it was 97 times that the Prime minister and Chris Bowen and other Labor frontbenchers before the last election promised power prices would drop by $275. And it's Australian families that are paying the price for those lies and for those failures, and it's just not good enough. And my great fear is that if this government is re-elected, that we'll have another three years of price rises, particularly as part of a hung parliament and a minority government with the Greens and the Teals. That will have disastrous effects on energy affordability.
FEGAN: When do you think, Senator, we will be able to hear from Peter Dutton with a clearer energy plan? I know that nuclear is his plan going forward. The Coalition will obviously, they've got that plan. We've seen the costings right, and I think there are a lot of Australians that are on board with it. But in the immediate future, if voted in, when do you think we will hear a clearer plan?
PATERSON: Very soon is the answer, the Shadow Minister for Energy, my colleague, my Queensland colleague Ted O'Brien, and our Shadow Resources Minister Susan McDonald have been doing amazing work on getting more gas into the system sooner for Australians because it's madness that we're exporting gas more cheaply overseas than we're consuming it here at home, when we're producing at home, and we'll have a lot to say about that in the coming weeks.
FEGAN: Yeah, and don't be surprised if you see in the budget we're going to be promised more rebates on energy. We just can't believe that, Senator. Unfortunately. We just cannot believe that from this government.
PATERSON: I don't blame Australians for the cynicism that when the government hands out money that doesn't even cover the cost of the higher prices that they've presided over on their watch, it doesn't deal with the substance of the problem. We have to get the system working better.
FEGAN: Senator, before I let you go, have you seen the video of this US influencer picking up a baby wombat? It's gone everywhere. I'm sure you've seen it. Look, there is calls to kick this person out. What would you do?
PATERSON: Look, I'm very sympathetic to that. I mean, I think she's been a very rude guest and, frankly, behaving appallingly in that video towards our native wildlife. But I have to say, I wish Tony Burke put as much effort into cancelling the visas of hardened criminals released into the community who have committed crimes against Australians and Hezbollah and Hamas supporters that this government has brought into our country. By all means, deport this person who's been cruel to a wombat. But how about terrorist supporters and violent criminals get deported too?
FEGAN: It's so funny, Senator. You literally just took the words out of my mouth. I was planning to say that exactly after you got off the phone. So there you go. You've done it for me. I mean, I agree, I think the Prime Minister's words have been really strong, you know, go and pick up a baby saltwater crocodile and take it from its mother. But at the same time, they're letting people free. And guess what? They're cutting that bloody tag off their ankle on the way out of the door.
PATERSON: Well, exactly right. And we've had people come to our country under Labor's watch that support listed terrorist organisations, that have met with and associated with terrorist organisations overseas. Right now, they're free in the community on visas.
FEGAN: Yeah. Good on you, Senator. Really appreciate your time. And we will check back very soon. Well, before the election. Good on you, Senator.
PATERSON: Cheers.
ENDS
