George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I can absolutely tell you, Senator Kitching, that that is wrong. The proposition you've asserted is completely wrong. What the government has adopted is a series of recommendations of the Energy Security Board: Kerry Schott, the chair of that board; Clare Savage, the deputy chair; John Pierce, the Chair of the Australian Energy Market Commission; Audrey Zibelman, the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Energy Market Operator; and Paula Conboy, Chair of the Australian Energy Regulator. Senator Kitching, you would know of some of these men and women. They are the best-informed specialists, the people in Australia with the most intimate knowledge of the Australian energy market, whose appointment, not by this government but by COAG three months ago, was welcomed by your own shadow spokesman, Mr Butler, as excellent.