Anthony Albanese says government will ‘take action’ if companies don’t co-operate
Gas companies who don’t meet the government at the table in order to help tackle the pricing crisis will face consequences, the PM has warned.
Anthony Albanese has threatened to “take action” against energy suppliers if they fail to co-operate with government in an attempt to tackle soaring prices.
Last week Treasurer Jim Chalmers flagged intervention and regulatory change in the energy market, which Mr Albanese said would hinge on the co-operation of suppliers.
Government ministers have hinted they would like a solution, which could include tax reform or a price cap, by Christmas.
“We are all working to make sure that we get an appropriate outcome, but we want this to be cooperative,” the Prime Minister said.
“But that shouldn’t be read as we’re not prepared to take action if the energy suppliers are not prepared to co-operate here.
“We know that there’s been substantial increases in profits at the same time as families and businesses are hurting from the increased charges.”
On Thursday, Industry Minister Ed Husic said the problem facing Australia was not one of supply, rather of “glut and greed” from high-grossing gas companies, while Resources Minister Madeleine King flagged broad industry overhauls.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has accused the government of mixed messaging over the issue.
Dr Chalmers told ABC’s Q+A on Thursday night that all options were on the table, including taxes for gas companies as well as direct assistance for struggling households.
But on Friday morning, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told Sky News the government would not be “sending cheques to people”.
Mr Albanese echoed that sentiment later in the morning, saying handouts would put further pressure on inflation.
The Opposition Leader said he wasn’t sure what message the government was going to send next.
“The trouble at the moment is you have a thought bubble coming out of the government each day,” he told the Nine Network.
“I just don’t know what it is they’re doing, or whether they can’t make a decision, but at the moment I think Australian families are hurting and looking to their government for help.
“The Prime Minister is saying he doesn’t have a clue.”
Mr Marles said the government was looking at “all options available” in order to drive downward pressure on gas prices.
“We’re going to do that in the way we’ve been doing this since coming to power, that is getting people around a table, working out the answers to this which gets the results that people need,” he told the Nine Network.
Appearing later on ABC Radio, Mr Marles said the government was working with gas companies to solve the problem.
A day earlier, Mr Husic said after the Albanese government signed the heads of agreement – which aimed to keep prices from soaring – some contracts were boasting higher prices.
Mr Marles said it was important that “everyone plays their part”.
“We are working with the gas companies to try and get an outcome here,” he said.
“There is an urgency in the way in which we’ve been acting because we understand the pressure that this is placing on households.”
One option the government is considering is a price cap, which has been introduced in the UK and is likely to be extended.
On Thursday night, Dr Chalmers said it was high on the government’s considerations.
“It’s not the only type of regulation, but it’s one of the ones that’s most commonly suggested to us. We have a little more work to do on this, so I can’t tell you tonight … the final conclusion,” he said.
“But … we know that electricity prices that began before the election are continuing now and are intensifying.”
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