House debates

Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Questions without Notice

Electricty Prices

2:37 pm

Photo of Greg HuntGreg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Sport. I refer to the minister’s previous answer about a 120 per cent increase in electricity prices for sporting clubs. Will the minister now correct the record and confirm that she—

Government Members:

Government members interjecting

Photo of Harry JenkinsHarry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Order! The member for Flinders will resume his seat.

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The question is out of order. It is not in order to verbal ministers during question time.

Photo of Harry JenkinsHarry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Order! I will listen carefully to the member for Flinders’ question.

Photo of Greg HuntGreg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage) Share this | | Hansard source

I refer to the minister’s previous answer to a question about a 120 per cent increase in electricity prices for sporting clubs. Will the minister now correct the record and confirm that she overstated the funding available to community organisations by 250 per cent? Will she confirm that there is no money specifically available for paying the 120 per cent increase in electricity prices with which sporting organisations are about to be hit?

Photo of Kate EllisKate Ellis (Adelaide, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Childcare and Youth) Share this | | Hansard source

I stand by my previous answer of a $200 million compensation fund to compensate Australians for the impact of our scheme in contrast to that which is being put forward by those opposite where there is zero to compensate them for these costs. I add that Australian sports are already feeling the consequences of climate change and are already concerned about the impact it is having on their infrastructure, on water shortages and on their ability to maintain their grounds. That is something that we on this side are particularly concerned about. It is why we have a serious plan to tackle climate change; we believe it is real, we believe that it needs to be addressed and we believe it should be done in a fair way to compensate Australians.