Nola Marino (Forrest, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. At the last election, did the Prime Minister promise the Australian people that power bills would go down by $275 per year?

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for the question and I thank the Prime Minister for the opportunity to remind the House that we, indeed, went to the people with a very comprehensive plan for energy prices and a very comprehensive plan for energy, which involved an end to the chaos and dysfunction of 22 energy policies over 10 years.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will resume his seat. The member for Dawson will cease interjecting. The minister's been going for about 20 seconds, but I'll hear from the Leader of the Opposition.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, the question was put to the Prime Minister. It's a question only capable of being answered by the Prime Minister, because it goes to his commitment given to the Australian people at the last election. The question should be answered straightly by the Prime Minister.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll hear from the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are two matters. First of all, as the Leader of the Opposition knows very well, the Prime Minister is able to direct questions to various policy areas. On a strict view of standing orders, the question is completely out of order anyway.

Opposition members: Why?

Why? Because you have to ask about what people are doing as ministers, and it makes no reference to it.

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Members on my left will cease interjecting. I'm trying to hear from the Manager of Opposition Business.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek your clarification of the proposition that the Leader of the House has just put. He's essentially arguing that, if a minister is consistently breaking his promise, he can't be asked about it. Is that seriously what the Leader of the House is putting?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat. I will hear from the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Simply to clarify what the Manager of Opposition Business just sought—a question is not able to only ask about a period when someone was in opposition. You're not allowed to have a question where every word of it is about what was said in opposition. It's completely out of order.

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Members on my left. The member for Groom! Order! The minister is answering the question. I have ruled the question in order. On the second part, as the Leader of the Opposition and members know, the Practice on page 549 allows the transfer of questions, as has been a long practice in this parliament.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, I welcome the opportunity to remind the House that we went to the election with a very comprehensive energy policy, accompanied by modelling. The modelling showed the impacts of our policies by 2025. That is true; it did. It showed the impact of our policies by 2025, because releasing modelling with your comprehensive policy is now the benchmark. That's the best practice, which you will have to meet. I look forward to you releasing your modelling on the impact of the cost of nuclear power stations and the location of nuclear power stations! I can't wait for that modelling to be released!

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Treasurer will cease interjecting.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can't wait for the election for those policies to be discussed and debated! Release the policy, release the modelling, on nuclear power any time you like.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Has the minister concluded his answer?

Opposition members interjecting—

Order! Members on my left!