Anne Webster (Mallee, National Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister explain to the House why he was chased out of Ballarat last Friday by a convoy of tractors?

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

Possibly because the member for Hume wasn't there! The member for Hume had this to say on 7 April 2022:

We are investing in VNI West because it is expected to generate $1.9 billion in net market benefits and will be a key part of an efficient transmission backbone for the electricity market.

The protesters in Ballarat on Friday were protesting against a program that was initiated and given regulatory approval by the former government, something that I pointed out at the time. The member for Hume went on to say this:

Our investment in this project will support reliable electricity supply, deliver substantial cost savings and help keep the lights on for Australian families, businesses and industries.

Well done, Angus.

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

Order! The Prime Minister will refer to members by their correct title. Has the Prime Minister completed his answer? The member for Wannon on a point of order.

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

It's relevance. The question was: why was the Prime Minister chased out of Ballarat by tractors?

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

Member for Wannon, when you ask a question which is very broad and you ask for a reason why—

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! The Prime Minister is giving an answer to a very political broad question. Everyone, take the temperature down; otherwise, there will be actions taken. The Prime Minister will continue.

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

As I said, this was a protest against a project in which the member for Hume also said:

The development of interconnectors and transmission is critical to bringing new generation capacity into the energy system …

Thousands of kilometres of new transmission is likely to be needed to connect new generation …

That is what the member for Hume said when he was the minister responsible. What I did in Ballarat was front up, be honest, tell people—

Honourable members interjecting—

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

No—the Prime Minister is going to pause.

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

I've never seen anyone run like him!

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

Member for Wannon, you've been here long enough. Those sorts of—

Don't point to other people! You're going to leave the chamber under 94(a).

Honourable members interjecting—

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

I want the Prime Minister to withdraw what he just said. You were the coward!

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

If the member does not leave immediately, I will name him.

The member for Wannon then left the chamber.

This goes to the question I have. If I can't hear what's being said because there is continual interjection, it's very difficult for me to get people to withdraw things. I'm sure the manager wishes to help?

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

I am indeed trying to help. We didn't ask what the top speed of a tractor was, but we could have done that. The way I am helping is the Prime Minister did use an unparliamentary term, and he does know that. He should withdraw it, and I'm sure he would be willing to, to assist the House.

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

I didn't hear what the Prime Minister—

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! I'll deal with this very precisely. You can resume your seat. If the Prime Minister has said something unparliamentary, I'll get him to withdraw. If I don't hear it, it's very difficult for me to make these calls. To assist the House, if anything has happened—if not, he's just going to continue on.

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

On Friday, I very clearly—

Honourable members interjecting—

I withdraw the same thing as the member for Hume said. Good point. I'll tell you what leadership isn't. I'll make two points. At a time when security is an issue, making those sorts of comments—I ask them to reflect on that seriously, given what's occurred with the Victorian premier today and other incidents. That's the first point. And the Australian Federal Police have enough of a job without it being added to. That's the first point.

The second point is: I front up and talk with people one on one, as well as at an event. I don't lie to them. And the truth is that coal-fired power stations—24 out of 28 of them closed on their watch, and they pretend it's something different as an example of just political opportunism.