House debates

Tuesday, 10 August 2021

Personal Explanations

3:55 pm

Photo of Scott MorrisonScott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

I seek to make a personal explanation.

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Does the Prime Minister claimed to have been misrepresented?

Photo of Scott MorrisonScott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

Yes, I do.

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The Prime Minister may proceed.

Photo of Scott MorrisonScott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for McMahon said today, 'Why did the Prime Minister claim that electric vehicles would end the weekend?' Following that, the Manager of Opposition Business made a claim about a statement made on 7 April 2019. This is what I said on 7 April 2019 in relation to a question on this subject:

We don't have a problem with electric vehicles. In fact, we've been facilitating the development of the new technologies. What Bill Shorten was talking about is how long it actually takes to charge up a vehicle today. He clearly had no idea.

I went on to say:

… the point about it is not whether electric vehicles are good or bad, in fact, they have a role to play increasingly in the vehicle fleet of Australia over the next decade.

…   …   …

So the cheapest car you can currently buy as an electric vehicle presently, my understanding is that including all on-road costs and all the rest of it, it's about $45,000 to $50,000. That's the cheapest car Bill Shorten wants to make available for you to buy …

I said:

Bill Shorten wants to end the weekend, when it comes to his policy …

I don't support that policy. I don't support the Labor Party's bad policy. I support the coalition's good policy on electric vehicles.