Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer her to the announcement today that Hydro Aluminium will close down its Kurri Kurri plant employing 344 people in part because of the impact of a carbon tax on its long-term viability. Given that the carbon tax is already a wrecking ball swinging through the aluminium industry, the coal industry, the steel industry and the aviation industry, will the Prime Minister apologise to the 344 workers whose livelihoods are now imperilled by her broken promise never to have a carbon tax?

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To the Leader of the Opposition's question, I am of course always concerned when I hear news of job losses. For the individual workers involved and for their families this is a very difficult time and I certainly feel for them and we will be working to support them. But I also think it is very important that in this place and beyond this place—

Mr Baldwin interjecting—

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Paterson!

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

we are clear as to what the reasons are and what the pressures are on the aluminium industry. I am very conscious of those pressures on the industry that are happening here in Australia and overseas. The reality is that the continuing fallout from the global financial crisis, along with increased global capacity, is putting downward pressure on world aluminium prices. Aluminium prices peaked at $3,300 per tonne but are now approximately $2,000 per tonne—that is US dollars—representing a fall of 40 per cent.

This depression in global aluminium prices has resulted in numerous closures around the world of older, less competitive smelters. Hydro Aluminium has consistently identified the strong Australian dollar, low metal prices and current international—

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will resume her seat. The Leader of the Opposition on a point of order?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I asked the Prime Minister about the impact of the carbon tax on this closure and whether she would apologise. She should be directly relevant.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The Leader of the House on a point of order?

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

Yes, Madam Deputy Speaker. That is not an opportunity for the Leader of the Opposition to spout rhetoric at the dispatch box. If he has a point of order on relevance, he simply has to say that.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister is answering the question. The Prime Minister has the call.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I took the question seriously and presumed that the Leader of the Opposition was actually concerned about these job losses. Obviously these workers are just political fodder to him; the same way that the steelworkers he stood alongside have just been props, because he has not been prepared to support their jobs. I am identifying the factors that Hydro Aluminium has pointed to as relating to the news today about these jobs: the strong Australian dollar, low metal prices and current international economic conditions. Minister Combet has spoken directly to the company today, and they are very clear that their current financial pressures have nothing to do with the carbon price. So the Leader of the Opposition should not come into this place and mislead. He should not do that.

Mr Baldwin interjecting—

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Paterson will resume his seat. A point of order on the question has already been taken. The Prime Minister has the call.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would point out to the Leader of the Opposition—and this might be a fact that he is interested in—

Mr Baldwin interjecting—

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Paterson is warned!

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

that the key uncertainty facing this company currently is the refusal of the New South Wales government to reach agreement over a long-term electricity supply contract. So, if the Leader of the Opposition is really concerned about these jobs as opposed to his mock political concern, then he may consider getting on the phone and speaking to his Liberal counterpart Premier O'Farrell about that matter. Beyond that, he should not come into this parliament and mislead this place or these workers about the reasons for these job losses.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister should withdraw that charge. If she wishes to do so, she could move it by substantive motion.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will resume his seat! The member for Robertson has the call.