Protester tries to shout down Labor, Coalition energy spokesmen during election campaign debate

Energy Minister Chris Bowen and coalition spokesman Ted O’Brien have held a testy debate on the key policy ahead of the May 3 election.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen says energy prices would be cheaper under Labor than the Coaltion, but has refused to put a figure on the claim, during a debate on the key election issue.

Mr Bowen and the Coalition’s energy spokesman Ted O’Brien squared off for the National Press Club debate on Thursday.

The Albanese government has been hounded during its first term for failing to deliver on its promise to to lower energy bills by $275, citing unforeseen circumstances such as the Ukraine/Russian war.

Debate moderator, Sky News presenter Tom Connell asked: “What price pledge can you offer for this election, not compared to any Coalition policies, but compared to the latest forecast prices – will they go up or down?”

Mr Bowen largely ignored the question.

“The pledge I give is that energy prices will be cheaper under us than under Mr O’Brien. That is the pledge,” he said

“Anybody who predicts energy prices in this complicated geopolitical environment, I think, is making a punt, so I will not do that.”

Energy Minister Chris Bowen says the Coalition’s nuclear plan is too expensive and will would take too long to build. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Opposition energy spokesman Ted O’Brien says Labor’s plans are too reliant on renewable energy. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr O’Brien said a Coalition government would deliver a 3 per cent reduction in electricity bills based on modelling by Frontier Economics, while household gas bills would drop by 7 per cent under its gas policy

In the snippy debate, both men accused each other of using flawed modelling, built on dodgy forecasts and hiding the true costs of their plans.

“Well you mentioned opposition modelling which I think is generous term. I’ve seen more detail in Chinese menu,” Mr Bowen said of the coalition’s gas reservation policy.

Mr O’Brien hit back.

“This comes fom the miniser whose own plan wouldn’t fit into a Chinese fortune cookie, which is probably where it belongs,” Mr O’Brien said.

He then called out Mr Bowen for not apologising for Labor failing to hit the $275 power bill pledge.

The climate change and energy debate between Labor’s Chris Bowen and the coalition’s Ted O’Brien was a snippy affair. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr O’Brien was also asked if a coalition government would wind back Australia’s internationally agreed emissions reduction targets.

“We will work out what is going to be the impact of emissions reduction on families in Australia, on regional Australia and on businesses in Australia,” Mr O’Brien said.

“We will not be setting targets from opposition.

“Once we set targets from government, it will be based on, number one, the trajectory of emissions, number two, the state of the economy number and three, our own suite of climate and energy policies.”

Australia has an emissions reduction target of 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, and a target of net-zero by 2025

Mr O’Brien defended the Coalition’s plan to build seven nuclear reactor plants in Australia, which has been attacked by Labor as an expensive “nuclear fantasy”.

“What is it that Anthony Albanese and you know that the United States doesn’t know, Canada doesn’t know, Japan doesn’t know, the United Arab Emirates doesn’t know, India, China,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Seriously ... we have 32 countries in the world today using nuclear energy, another 50 looking at adopting it for the very first time, why?

“It can work in a complementary way with renewables and with gas to get prices down.”

As has happened continually on the campaign trail, a climate protester has again interrupted politicians holding court.

A protestor was ejected during the Chris Bowen and Ted O'Brien National Press Club debate at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Climate change protesters also made their presence felt outside the debate at the National Gallery of Australia. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

After Mr Bowen made an opening statement at the debate on Thursday, a protester interrupted Mr O’Brien’s opening. The protester could be heard yelling about Labor and the Liberals.

“When are you going to stop,” he could be heard shouting.

Mr O’Brien attempted to speak over the protester, but had to stop momentarily.

An unruffled Mr O’Brien simply said: “Can we just proceed and ignore.”

Debate moderator, NPC president and Sky News election analyst Tom Connell, reset Mr O’Brien’s time. The protester was removed.

Climate protesters have disrupted Labor and Liberal politicians several times during the campaign for the May 3 election so far.

Anthony Albanese was shouted at earlier this week, at an event announcing major investments in mental health. The protester said Labor’s approval of coal mines was damaging people’s mental health.

The coalition says it does not have caps on renewable energy in its plans, but its modelling puts forward a 54 per cent cap on renewables. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Mr O’Brien and Mr Bowen are spearheading the major parties’ messaging around energy bills and trying to get voters onside with their drastically different plans for the energy production.

Mr Bowen says the Labor plan is backed by the CSIRO, and the Liberals dismiss the advice of the experts.

“That’s why their plan is so risky for the country,” Mr Bowen said.

“Their modelling crumbles like a wet SAO (cracker) in a blender at the lightest scrutiny.

“Of all the policy problems, the most spectacular is that they rely on Australia needing 40 per cent less electricity to make their plan look around 40 per cent cheaper.

“So their policy is based on no aluminium smelting, no steelmaking, no new data centres and an anaemic take-up of EVs by 2050.”

Mr O’Brien said the Coalition policy in the near term was to replace retiring coal plants “with zero emissions nuclear energy” and increasing the amount of gas in the domestic market.

“Under our plan in the short term we will see gas prices coming down,” he said.

“I believe our balanced energy mix is what will ultimately deliver Australia a future where we are rich, not poor, where we are strong, one where we are fiercely independent and not dependent on foreign supply chains.”