Angie Bell (Moncrieff, Liberal National Party, Shadow Minister for Youth) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. How has the government managed to find so many millions of dollars in taxpayer money to fund inner-city cycleways, including bike lanes in Sydney and Grayndler, but so much less to support South Australia's response to the once-in-a-generation ecological event, the devastating algal bloom. Why do countless communities and small businesses in South Australia, many of whom are here today, Prime Minister, have to pay for the cost of Labor's inaction?

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! There's far too much noise. The member was entitled to be heard in silence. I'm not happy with the level of interjections.

The Leader of the Opposition! I'm just saying I'm not happy with the level of interjections, so that's not a time to interject.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I met with all of the councils earlier today, and they thanked the government for the work that we are doing when it comes to South Australia's algal bloom. This is an ecological event that is directly related to the impacts we are seeing right across our continent from climate change. What we have seen here is floodwaters coming through the Murray-Darling Basin, out through the Coorong and into the ocean, at a time when extra nutrients have therefore gone into the water and the water is two degrees hotter than it would normally be at this time of the year.

This is not something that is the result of any single government action. This is something that I've met with the South Australian government on. Importantly, we have provided a range of funding. Indeed, every bit of funding that we have been asked for has been provided.

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

Order! The member for Moncrieff has asked her question.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is also including $20 million to support the South Australian government not just to combat the effects of the algal bloom but to improve preparedness for future events. Now, does anyone think that abolishing our commitment to net zero and action on climate change will make these events more likely or less likely to happen in the future? At a time when those opposite are running a relentless campaign from some in the National Party—it's even brought the member—

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

Order! I want to hear from the Manager of Opposition Business.

Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Relevance again, Speaker.

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

No, resume your seat. No, I'm not entertaining it. If you ask a question, or anyone asks a question, and the Prime Minister is giving facts and figures about the topic and then going into reasons behind that, he's entitled to do that. We're not just getting up and saying, 'I don't like an answer, and that's my point of order.' That's what we're doing. The Prime Minister has the call. I can simply say I won't take any points of order, which other Speakers have done.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Mr Speaker. This issue is directly related to climate change. The people that we met this morning understand that it's directly related to climate change. The scientists who we met with last week, who are undertaking practical work, understand that this is directly related to climate change. Those opposite are busy. The taker of the point of order has said that they're having a nine- to 12-month experience over whether their support for net zero will continue. But it is extraordinary that they're actually becoming more right wing on climate than Scott Morrison was. (Time expired)