Jamie Briggs Mayo, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee
2:49 pm
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. I refer the Treasurer to the Prime Minister's statement in response to caller Wazza on Darwin radio in June that he could save on power costs by switching off his beer fridge. Why is the government ignoring the Prime Minister's own advice by buying a climate controlled wine and champagne fridge for the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency? How will the government find $120 billion for its budget black hole when its spending is so wasteful?
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer
2:50 pm
I was just trying to figure out which Wazza it was. We have a couple. I thank the member for his question. There has been some publicity about these matters in the press, and it is the case that the department has been out seeking quotes for whitegoods, kitchenettes, meeting rooms and so on. I just want to go through what the department is doing, because this is a very energy-efficient building.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer
I really do understand that those opposite do not understand the concept of energy efficiency. I think everybody in the House actually gets that, and they have proved it yet again. The fact is that this new building which is being constructed and which the department is moving into is expected to cut their emissions in half, and it is going to save something like $70,000 a year from power generated by solar panels that are on the roof. The department expects to make $19.1 million in savings from 2011-12 to 2015-16 from the construction of this energy-efficient building. As I have been saying through the discussion today, the government does have a focus on finding efficiencies in savings. Efficiencies in savings have been found substantially within the department and that will continue to be the case.
Darren Chester Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Regional Transport
What time's happy hour?
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
The member for Gippsland may be celebrating his birthday today, but he is not going to continue to do it in the chamber. He will leave under 94(a).
The member for Gippsland then left the chamber—
The member for Mayo is seeking to table a document?
Jamie Briggs Mayo, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee
Indeed, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am seeking to table the tender document in relation to the provision of whitegoods and associated services for the Nishi building, which includes the champagne and beer fridge.
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
The member for Mayo will resume his seat. Is leave granted?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
No, and to benefit the member for Mayo from South Australia, I table ABC news report, 'SA Liberals keen to slash public sector'.
Jamie Briggs Mayo, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee
With the same leave, can the minister also table the same report which talks about losing the AAA—
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
The member for Mayo will also leave the chamber under 94(a) for continual abuse of points of order. The member for Mayo should have learnt his lesson at the beginning of the week.
The member for Mayo then left the chamber—
The Manager of Opposition Business.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training
Madam Deputy Speaker, on your ejection of the member for Mayo, can I just ask how it is in order, if a member asks to table a document, for a minister to table an entirely extraneous matter—he could table the telephone book or the electoral roll, and that makes a mockery of question time.
Mr McCormack interjecting—
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
The member for Riverina might not be able to table anything for much longer if he continues like that. The member for Moreton has the call.