A senior member of the Liberal party has raised doubts about the Coalition's claims that renewable energy is causing an increase in power prices. Simon Birmingham, a frontbencher in the Liberal party, stated that the reliance on renewables is growing because they have become more affordable on their own. Birmingham mentioned in an interview with Guardian Australia that the cost competitiveness of renewables is driving their increased usage. This challenges the Coalition's argument that renewable energy is the reason behind rising power prices.