Lucy Wicks (Robertson, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Energy. Will the minister update the House on action that the government is taking to ensure there is enough base-load dispatchable power to deliver an affordable and reliable energy supply to Australian families and businesses, including in my electorate of Robertson? Is the minister aware of any alternative approaches?

Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Robertson for her question. I know she's a hardworking member who is deeply concerned about rising power prices and the impact on her constituents. She understands, like all of the members on this side of the House understand, that we are doing everything possible to ensure sufficient dispatchable base-load power in the system—like the export mechanism that we've put in place to restrict gas exports and ensure that there is sufficient domestic supply; the investment in Snowy Mountains 2.0 and other storage projects; our support for the Finkel recommendation that large-scale generators give a minimum three years notice of closure, and that wind and solar farms provide their own levels of backup.

I'm asked if I'm aware of any alternative approaches. We know the Leader of the Opposition was not the people's choice. Well, now we know he's not the workers' choice, because the Labor Party, led by the Leader of the Opposition, wants to close down Australia's coal-fired power stations.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's in your election platform, it's in the motions that you joined with the Greens and it's in your reckless 45 per cent emissions reduction target!

After the experiences of Labor governments in South Australia and Victoria, which oversaw the closure of Northern and Hazelwood, we've seen the higher prices and the less-stable system that flows from closing coal-fired power stations. But you don't hear the member for Hunter speak out for the workers in his electorate. He waves the white flag! He's not interested in the workers at Liddell. You don't hear from the member for Shortland about those workers at Vales Point. You don't hear from the member for Paterson.

Mr Conroy interjecting—

Ms Madeleine King interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will resume his seat. The members for Shortland and Brand, amongst others, are interjecting again far too often and far too loudly. I'm giving you fair warning now.

Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Isn't it ironic that the Labor members are now finding their voices, when they had nothing to say when the Labor Party announced their policy to close the coal-fired power stations?

Mr Conroy interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Shortland will leave under 94(a). The member for Shortland will leave under 94(a)!

Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Shortland has said nothing about Vales Point—

Pat Conroy (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Four years!

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Shortland has been asked to leave under 94(a) twice, but he can't hear because he's shouting at the chamber.

The member for Shortland then left the chamber.

A government member interjecting—

Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As my learned colleague here said, the members and the constituents in the member's electorate will be better represented now that he's left the chamber, because the member for Hunter has been nowhere to be seen, the member for Shortland has been nowhere to be seen and the member for Paterson has been nowhere to be seen, and the Leader of the Opposition has failed to be upfront with the Australian people on how his plans to close coal-fired power stations will cost jobs, cost investment, cost growth, see higher electricity prices and see a less-stable system. That's Labor's energy policy.

Ms Swanson interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Paterson is warned!