House debates Questions without Notice
Gas Pipeline
Wilson Tuckey O'Connor, Liberal Party
3:50 pm
I address my question to the Acting Prime Minister. I refer the Acting Prime Minister to reported plans of the Japanese Inpex Group to pipe gas to Darwin for liquefaction. Acting Prime Minister, what is the estimated increase in global greenhouse gas emissions arising from the manufacture of this unnecessary extra 800-kilometre pipeline and the ongoing pumping energy requirements? Furthermore, what is the negative effect on Australia’s terms of trade and Commonwealth resource rent tax revenue arising from those additional costs?
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Prime Minister
I think we have seen a very real indication that the opposition is out of questions. I think it was very generous of the member for Kennedy, who must have consulted with the member for O’Connor in the drafting of that question! In response to the member for O’Connor’s question, can I say the following. No. 1, it is interesting to me that he should be questioning about greenhouse gases, when he sits in a party of climate change sceptics.
Wilson Tuckey O'Connor, Liberal Party
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order on relevance. This is a simple question seeking facts. Why do we have to have blustering when she does not know the answer?
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Order! The member for O’Connor will resume his seat. The Acting Prime Minister has the call.
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Prime Minister
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. No. 2, can I say to the member for O’Connor that, of course, the government is very happy to look into the questions that he has raised—should he seriously want to pursue them—and provide him with a briefing on the matter. But it does seem to me that the member for O’Connor might want to think seriously about the policy settings of the party of which he is a member when it comes to climate change before coming into this House and feigning any degree of concern about the matter.
Barry Haase Kalgoorlie, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Transport
You’re the government. $25 billion worth of investment lost. You’re a pack of frauds.
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Order! The member for Kalgoorlie will withdraw that remark.
Barry Haase Kalgoorlie, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Transport
Mr Speaker, this government have been asked a serious question about why they are dudding Western Australia for $25 billion. They are frauds.
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The member for Kalgoorlie will leave the chamber for one hour under standing order 94(a).
Barry Haase Kalgoorlie, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Transport
With absolute satisfaction, Mr Speaker.
Barry Haase Kalgoorlie, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Transport
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
3:53 pm
I move:
That the member for Kalgoorlie be suspended from the service of the House.
Question put.
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The member for Kalgoorlie is suspended from the service of the House for 24 hours.
The member for Kalgoorlie then left the chamber.