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AAP
AAP
Matthew Elmas

Experts unplug Peter Dutton's power bill rise figure

Peter Dutton has cited the $1300 figure on multiple occasions across the campaign (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

One of Peter Dutton's most repeated claims from the election campaign has been deemed to be misleading.

Experts told AAP FactCheck the claim that power bills have gone up by $1300 under Labor relies on cherry-picked data and does not reflect the reality for Australians.

Most electricity bills have increased by less than half the cited figure.

To reach Mr Dutton's $1300, he has used an upper limit benchmark power rate for the comparison.

Mr Dutton speaking as the PM looks on at the leaders' debate
Mr Dutton also cited the $1300 figure at the third leaders' debate this week. (Alex Ellinghausen/AAP PHOTOS)

Of the 10 upper benchmark rates for residential, Mr Dutton has chosen the one with the largest price increase between the chosen comparison financial years of 2021/22 and 2025/26.

He has then added $275 to the end comparison bill, a reference to the amount by which Labor said it would reduce energy bills.

He has also not taken into account the government's energy rebates, which were at least $300 per household this financial year.

Dylan McConnell, an electricity systems expert at the University of NSW, said it was incorrect to use the $1300 figure to refer to the rise in Australian power bills, calling it "a very cherry-picked number".

Elsewhere, AAP FactCheck debunked a false claim from Education Minister Jason Clare on Sky News that the coalition didn't support Labor's $300 energy bill rebates in 2024.

Labor has also made the false claim in election adverts. While the coalition opposed an initial bill to set up energy rebates in 2022, it later supported the $300 extension of the program.

@aapfactcheck In an appearance on Sky News, Education Minister Jason Clare falsely claimed the Liberal Party voted against Labor's $300 energy bill relief scheme in 2024. Parliamentary records show the rebate passed without objection. #auspol ♬ original sound - AAP FactCheck

AAP FactCheck also looked into opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume's claims on increases in waiting times for age pension and low income cards.

Her claim is misleading as she uses outdated figures to forward her argument.

AAP FactCheck has also been monitoring election-related misinformation on social media ahead of polling day on May 3.

This week a fake image that purports to show Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying he was proud to see Australian girls learning about sharia law has been debunked.

CLAIMS REVISITED

AAP FactCheck has been debunking election claims for several weeks. That hasn't stopped some of the key political players from repeating them.

* Both Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton clung to debunked narratives at the third leaders' debate this week, repeating false or misleading claims relating to government spending, energy policy and migration numbers.

* The Nationals party has repeated false claims that no homes have been built under Labor and that inflation has been consistently higher under Labor in posts on its Facebook page.

* Mr Dutton and various coalition ministers have repeated false claims that Labor's energy plan is renewables only.

* Mr Albanese and various Labor ministers have repeated a cherry-picked figure that the coalition's nuclear policy will cost $600 billion. Experts say no one knows what it could cost.

Visit AAP FactCheck's website to read all of these checks in full.

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