Luke Hartsuyker Cowper, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House
2:40 pm
My question is to the Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy. I ask this question on behalf of Mr Russell Greenwood of Russell’s Prime Quality Meats of Coffs Harbour, who said today:
My electricity bill has jumped from $5,600 per quarter to $7,400 per quarter in less than 12 months. A further electricity price increase as a result of Kevin Rudd’s great big new tax will cause me to shed staff and drive up the cost of meat. Further increases in the cost of electricity will cause extreme financial difficulty for my business.
Given that Mr Greenwood will receive no compensation for his business costs under the government’s emission trading scheme, how does the minister expect him to keep his business afloat in these times of rising costs?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
Mr Albanese interjecting
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Order! Before giving the call to the Leader of the House, he will withdraw his remarks.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
I withdraw. Mr Speaker, on a point of order: I would ask that the member table the letter from which he was quoting.
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer
Mr Hockey interjecting
Harry Jenkins Speaker
There is no provision for that. As I have said before, the past practice of people who have occupied the chair has been to take it on trust that a member, in quoting from a document or a case where they have actually identified a person, will substantiate that by their own word.
Craig Emerson Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation
Some mothers do ‘ave ‘em! For the member for Cowper to suggest that electricity prices have gone up in the last 12 months as a consequence of the CPRS is patently absurd. I am not suggesting—
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training
Mr Pyne interjecting
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Order! The member for Sturt will withdraw his remarks and he should dampen his enthusiasm.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training
I withdraw, Mr Speaker.
Luke Hartsuyker Cowper, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House
On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I think it would assist the House if I were to repeat the question, because the minister clearly was not listening.
Luke Hartsuyker Cowper, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House
I think it would help. Just the last paragraph?
Craig Emerson Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation
I am not suggesting that the small business man in question has claimed that electricity prices have gone up over the last year as a consequence of the CPRS, but that is what the member for Cowper said. As we know, the author of the question is the Manager of Opposition Business, because he repeated the question. We are quite happy for you to ask the question again.
Luke Hartsuyker Cowper, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Mr Speaker, it is essential that I read the question again, because he is misrepresenting the question.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Order! The member for Cowper will resume his seat. If the member for Cowper feels aggrieved by comments that the minister has made in his response, there are other forums of the House which he can use. I am not dealing with making question time a debating session.
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer
Mr Hockey interjecting
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The member for North Sydney, who seems to be bemused or amused by my comments, knows that I have a view that has not been adopted by the House in any changes to standing orders, but it would assist if the standing orders that apply to the questions applied to the answers. They do not, and the practice of the House has been that there are different interpretations of what is allowed. The minister is in order.
Craig Emerson Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation
I will wind up my remarks by saying that this is the most absurd question I have ever heard in this chamber. That the member for Cowper would read out a question written by the member for Sturt, the Manager of Opposition Business in the House, asserting that increases in electricity prices over the last year have been caused by the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is absurd. It is an absurd question. The member for Cowper has embarrassed himself and he should think twice about asking stupid questions in the parliament.