Expanded Evidence-Taking Powers for the Australian Energy Regulator
Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Energy Regulator Separation) Bill 2025
Senate
House of Representatives
Assent
Topics
consumer protection energy regulation government administration public service regulatory oversight
Introduced by: The Hon Chris Bowen MP (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Katy Gallagher ALP
“I present the explanatory memoranda relating and move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted.”
Jonathon Duniam LIB
“I rise to speak on the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Energy Regulator Separation) Bill 2025, and I’m delighted to be able to do so with the limited time available to me before we get to two-minute statements.”
Lisa Darmanin ALP
“The purpose of the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Energy Regulator Separation) Bill 2025 is quite straightforward. It is clear and specific in its purpose to establish the AER as a standalone Commonwealth entity, separating it from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.”
Larissa Waters GRN
“The Australian Energy Regulator manages the energy network transformation as we shift from last century’s centralised polluting machinery into a decentralised smart network of clean technologies and households in charge of their own energy.”
Richard Dowling ALP
“I rise today in strong support of the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Energy Regulator Separation) Bill 2025, and that’s specifically what we’re here to discuss.”
“Why is the Albanese Labor government making it easier for their corporate mates with every piece of legislation? This bill before us, the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Energy Regulator Separation) Bill 2025, will likely pass without a whimper. You won’t hear much about it from either side of politics.”
Tim Ayres ALP
“I thought I might just say a few things for about 10 minutes; that was my plan. I do want to deal— Senator Brockman: Eleven minutes! Senator AYRES: We’ll see how we go. I do want to make a few comments about that remarkable contribution. Senator Roberts is very cross about the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Energy Regulator Separation) Bill 2025.”
Dan Tehan LIB
“It’s no wonder that the Minister for Climate Change and Energy didn’t come into the chamber to speak on this bill, because, if you’d ever wanted an example of how out of touch this minister is, this is just another example of it. What we’ve seen since the election is that the government has had to walk away from their commitment to reduce Australians’ power bills by $275.”
“The Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Energy Regulator Separation) Bill 2025 is intended to separate the Australian Energy Regulator from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. This will enable the AER to be an independent body with its own board under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. The AER has been around since July 2005.”
“I rise today to speak in support of the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Energy Regulator Separation) Bill 2025. This is important legislation to separate the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission from the Australian Energy Regulator.”
Barnaby Joyce PHON
“Obviously, we are on the premise of regulation. There is never a place that needs more regulation and more staff than the absolute swindle which is intermittent power. Every time, it never ceases to amaze me. As we speak, we have the Chinese company BYD, or ’build your dreams’.”
“I did have a speech written, but I believe that the member for New England’s speech deserves a bit of a change of plan from me. The member for New England said the idea that we can change the climate—the idea that we can do anything or that Australia should stand up and do something when it comes to climate change—is a ’swindle’. He said it was a ’swindle’ and he said it was ’insane’.”
David Moncrieff ALP
“Our energy market is a cornerstone of Australia’s economic infrastructure and a critical service for Australian consumers. It enables the transmission and distribution of electricity across vast distances, supporting industries, businesses and households with reliable power. Australians expect to be able to have access to cheap, reliable power.”
Steve Georganas ALP
“I’m pleased to be standing here to support the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Energy Regulator Separation) Bill 2025, which will establish the Australian Energy Regulator, AER, as a standalone entity. It will be completely separate and fully independent from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, or the ACCC, and the Commonwealth.”
Ed Husic ALP
“Thanks, Deputy Speaker Young. It’s great to see you again. You’re working very hard for that role today, I might add, sir. I also want to commend my friend the member for Adelaide, who referred to a regulator as a superhero. I think you referred to the AER as superheros—that’s maybe the first time in the parliament that regulators have been spoken about so effusively, so well done, Mr Georganas.”