WHAT WAS CLAIMED
The coalition opposed three lots of energy bill relief.
OUR VERDICT
False. While the coalition opposed reforms that enabled the first round of energy bill relief in 2022, they didn't oppose the next two.
AAP FACTCHECK - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is falsely claiming the coalition opposed three rounds of his government's energy bill relief for households.
While the coalition voted against reforms that set up the Energy Bill Relief Fund in 2022, it didn't oppose subsequent extensions of energy relief in 2023 and 2024.
Mr Albanese made the claim in Question Time on July 31, 2025, in response to a question from Opposition Leader Sussan Ley about Australians facing energy bill hardship.
"One of the things that my government has done, of course, is introduce energy bill relief - three lots of energy bill relief, all of which were opposed by those opposite," Mr Albanese told parliament.
The prime minister's office didn't respond to AAP FactCheck's request for evidence.
AAP FactCheck previously debunked a claim made by Education Minister Jason Clare during the May 2025 election campaign that the coalition opposed the second round of the Albanese government's energy bill relief in 2024.
Mr Albanese also made that claim during the campaign, and later in July 2025 went further, saying the coalition also opposed the third round of relief.
Parliamentary records show the coalition voted against legislation setting up the Energy Bill Relief Fund and funding the first round of subsidies in late 2022 (sheet 1787).
However, then-opposition leader Peter Dutton did say at the time that the coalition would have supported the subsidies if they were separated from caps on coal and gas prices.
In the 2024/25 federal budget, the government announced an extension of energy bill relief worth $300 for all households.
Funding was contained in an appropriation bill introduced to parliament after the budget, which passed without coalition opposition.
Mr Dutton had confirmed the coalition would support the extension in his 2024 budget reply.
In March 2025, Treasurer Jim Chalmers unveiled a third extension of energy bill relief in the 2025/26 budget, funding for which was outlined in an appropriations bill introduced during the last parliament but that lapsed without passing.
The bill was reintroduced in the new parliament in late July 2025 but hasn't yet passed.
During an ABC interview before the election, then-shadow treasurer Angus Taylor said the coalition wouldn't oppose the third round of energy bill relief.
Since the election, the coalition has said its policies are all under review.
Shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien didn't provide a statement about the coalition's current position on the third round of energy bill relief when AAP FactCheck inquired.
However, there's no evidence the coalition is opposing the subsidies.
AAP FactCheck is an accredited member of the International Fact-Checking Network. To keep up with our latest fact checks, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, BlueSky, TikTok and YouTube.
