‘Cut the crap’: Chris Bowen refuses to reveal green energy scheme cost

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has again refused to say how much taxpayers have been billed for the green energy Capacity Investment Scheme, saying it was not uncommon for the government not to reveal costs for such programs.

The Coalition has tabled in the Senate an order to produce documents that will try to force the government to reveal information about the opaque scheme.

It will attempt to compel the government to release information about “the delivery of social licence benefits”, the status of the projects under the scheme, and the financial and fiscal impact of the scheme.

It is unclear whether the order will receive crossbench support.

The Australian revealed on Sunday that renewable energy generators were showering Australians with tens of billions in promises – including $15,000 cash payments, the commissioning of Indigenous artwork and energy rebates – under “social ­licence commitments” to be underwritten by the scheme.

The government is refusing to say how much money taxpayers have paid or offered to these companies to underwrite their renewable energy projects for the near $40bn in social licence commitments made in return.

Opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan was kicked out of question time on Monday after telling Mr Bowen to “cut the crap” and provide information on how much the CIS was costing taxpayers.

Mr Tehan was counselled on using language “beneath the dignity of the house”.

In a tongue-in-cheek follow-up, Mr Tehan asked Mr Bowen whether he would “cut the fecal matter” and reveal the costs of the scheme. He was booted out of question time for the stunt.

Mr Bowen repeatedly refused to say how much had been paid out under the scheme, arguing this was “longstanding practice” with government auctions, and listed examples under the previous Coalition government.

“The Capacity Investment Scheme is treated in the budget in a very similar way and in fact identical way to previous government programs of a similar nature, including programs that were administered by the then minister for energy, including ­underwriting new generation investments, including (the) Snowy Hydro 2 business case that the member for Hume (Angus Taylor) was responsible for, including changes to the Clean Energy Regulator that the member for Wannon (Mr Tehan) was responsible for, the Australian Naval Infrastructure that the member for Wannon was responsible for, all of which are noted commercial in confidence,” he said.

Mr Bowen also defended the social licence commitments regime. “I think that’s a good thing,” he said. “Those opposite think it’s a bad thing. I also make no apologies for some First Nations communities receiving benefits from these programs, including the program … which has negotiated 5 per cent equity for local First Nations people … which I don’t think is a bad thing, I think is a good thing.”