Marion Scrymgour (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Innovation. How is the Albanese Labor government making the economy more resilient while providing good jobs as part of the government's Future Made in Australia agenda?

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

I thank the member for Lingiari for her question and congratulate her on being the first Aboriginal person to sit in the Speaker's chair this week. Well done.

Creating jobs and industries that support them is one of the golden threads that run through the history of the Australian Labor Party. From Curtin and Chifley's full employment and creation of the car industry to the Hawke economic reforms and the Button industry plan to Prime Minister Albanese's vision for a future made in Australia, it's all about creating jobs and supporting families. That's why we're committed to seizing the opportunities from the global move to net zero.

We know the best renewable energy resources are in Australia. Nearly every critical mineral needed to power the clean energy economy of the 21st century resides in Australia. We've got copper, zinc, bauxite and cobalt, and we've got lithium in abundance. We're great at mining these resources, but the Australian people demand more. They want us to value add to them where possible and create well-paid highly skilled manufacturing industries, and the Albanese Labor government is backing this vision with our transformational policy agenda: the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, production tax credits for renewable hydrogen and critical minerals, $2 billion for Australia's aluminium smelters and $1 billion for the Green Iron Investment Fund.

Green iron is the foundation for the future for the global iron trade, and it's a generational opportunity to make Australia more prosperous, thereby reducing global emissions. It was a key priority for Prime Minister Albanese's visit to China. The Albanese government understands that the world is changing, and that's why we're taking action. We recognise the opportunities that are in front of us and are committed to seizing the future to support high-growth cutting edge industries. Sadly, that support is not bipartisan. This week we saw the coalition's climate change clown show back in town. Speaking of one of them—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

I withdraw!

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

Order! I've got two members on their feet. The member for Wannon was first. The minister's withdrawn that comment. I'm going to say to him that that is completely unacceptable. It's not helpful in debate. We had that last week as well, on that side. I'm just going to draw a line in the sand: we're not commenting on people. Member for Wannon, a point of order?

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It goes to relevance. The question was very specific. It asked about what the Labor Party was doing in this area—it said nothing about the coalition—and only a clown would answer like that.

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

Member for Wannon, I just said we're not having that. We're drawing a line in the sand. You were standing there at the dispatch box when I specifically referenced what happened before. You'll leave the chamber under standing order 94(a). That is next level, and you should know better.

The member for Wannon then left the chamber.

I hope everyone's really clear. Good. The minister wasn't asked about alternative approaches and policies in his question. He was asked about how the government is making the industry more resilient regarding employment, so he's going to return to that question and not talk about the opposition.

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

Thank you, Speaker. As I was saying, our plan makes sure that Australians benefit from the global race to net zero. It's all about jobs, jobs and jobs, which is the golden thread of the Labor Party. A Future Made in Australia is about seizing those job opportunities, particularly in regional communities like the member for Lingiari's and mine. It's about creating a more resilient economy, increasing our sovereignty and independence. The truth is the Albanese government is getting on with the job and delivering for the Australian people. That's what people expect of their government: not climate wars but a future made in Australia.