SA Senator and Trade Minister Don Farrell says he doesn’t follow power prices ‘closely’
Trade Minister Don Farrell has come under fire for revealing he doesn’t follow how much Australians are paying for electricity. Are his comments out of touch? Have your say.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Trade Minister Don Farrell has come under fire for being “out of touch” after making a stunning admission that he doesn’t follow how much Australians are paying for electricity.
Senator Farrell, acting as senate leader while Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong remains sidelined with Covid, told parliament he didn’t follow power prices “closely” after the Opposition asked if he was aware of “anywhere in Australia where power prices have reduced since (Labor) has been in government”.
“I have to say I don’t follow power prices as closely to be able to answer the question and I’m not sure there’s any person in this chamber who so closely watches power prices to be able to give that answer,” Senator Farrell told parliament during Question Time on Wednesday.
Prior to the election, Labor promised to slash household power bills by $275 a year by 2025.
As electricity prices continue to surge, the promise has been repeatedly attacked by the Coalition.
Senator Farrell went on to tell parliament on Wednesday: “It’s the objective of an Albanese government to put downward pressure on power prices so that Australian households and Australian businesses don’t have to pay the electricity prices that have resulted from (the Coalition’s) years and years and years of neglect in this space”.
He was also quizzed about the rising cost of groceries, prompting him to tell the Senate: “I can’t say I know the grocery prices of every retail store in the country”.
Senator Birmingham accused the acting senate leader of being out of touch with everyday Australians.
“Senator Farrell seemed to find it almost funny that he didn’t follow power prices or know that grocery prices were going up,” he told The Advertiser.
“This is far from funny given the real pressures Australians are facing every day under this Labor government as well as rising inflation, mortgages and rent.
“If the current Labor Leader in the Senate doesn’t even care about the costs being felt by Australians it shows how out of touch this Labor Government really is.”
Senator Farrell told parliament it was “the purpose of this government to try and put downward pressure on the cost of living", pointing to reforms such as cheaper childcare.
The Advertiser contacted Senator Farrell to respond to Senator Birmingham’s claims.
Join the conversation
‘Certainly interested’: Victoria’s bold bid to steal LIV Golf Adelaide
The Victorian Liberals want to steal LIV Golf from SA in a cheeky bid to bring the blockbuster to Melbourne – but Premier Peter Malinauskas is confident he can lock the event in here.
Read more
Star greyhound trainer denies naming dog after former female colleague
A star greyhound trainer has denied he named a dog after a colleague and obtained footage inside her home, amid a separate investigation into leaked photos from inside his kennel.
Read more