Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

I've been to a lot of footy games over the years at the Parade to watch the Redlegs play football. I was just thinking during question time about the people I sit with in the box. I sit there with Rita and Mike, with Ray and Beryl, and with Mario and Vincenza. I have to say that, in all the years I have been going to the Redlegs footy games, they have never stopped me and said, 'Before I consider the government's policy, I have to see your regulatory impact statement.' I have been in parliament for 24 years. I've been to a lot of supermarkets. I've done a lot of doorknocking. I've been to a lot of events. I've been to a lot of footy games. I've been to a lot of RSL functions. I can tell you that I've been to a lot of War Widows' Guild events. No-one has ever said to me, 'I'm sorry, but, before I consider the government's policy, you have to show me your regulatory impact statement.' That's what we've been reduced to in this House today because that's all the Labor Party has left, delving around in cabinet processes, when the only issue that matters here today is affordable and reliable electricity prices.

The Turnbull government have taken the bull by the horns and are delivering reliable power, reducing our emissions and delivering affordable power. Labor have been found totally flat-footed by this Leader of the Opposition, who has led them into a political cul-de-sac where they've never done the hard work on policy. Since they lost the last election, they've not done any work to actually get to the bottom of real issues of government substance. All they do every day is think, 'How do we win the 24-hour news cycle and get on the television news tonight?' They have been found completely wanting, because the Turnbull government, backed by the Energy Security Board, have come up with a solution to the only issue that the members of the public are talking to us about—how to overcome the mess left to us by Labor because of their ideological obsession with renewable energy which they still continue to this day, with a desire to spend $66 billion of taxpayers' money on subsidies for wind and solar, which we now know are competitive with coal and gas. Because of ideology, they intend to waste $66 billion when, instead, they could get on board with the energy guarantee that will bring down prices and provide reliability and that will reduce our emissions and ensure that we are meeting our international targets. It's time to get on board, Labor, and support lower prices.

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