Rowan Holzberger (Forde, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government helping deliver cheaper, reliable energy for Australians? Are there any risks to our energy security?

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

I thank the member for Forde for his question, and I recongratulate him on his election as well. When we came to government, we inherited a debacle of a situation when it comes to energy. It was put very well by Mr Coorey of the Australian Financial Reviewalways worth reading, Mr Speaker. He said this:

… in reality, the climate wars of the past two decades, caused primarily by recalcitrance from the conservatives, is the reason why the energy grid today is such a dysfunctional and costly mess as it tries to play catch up.

I couldn't have put it better myself. But, when we came to government—what Mr Coorey is referring to is the fact that 24 out of 28 ageing coal-fired power stations announced they were closing within the decade. Eight had already closed, including Hazelwood, because they were old and at the end of their lives. That all happened on the coalition's watch. Then they put $3 million into a feasibility study for Collinsville—do you remember that?—with zero chance of it ever progressing. Of course, it didn't progress under them. They did nothing about it. They had no plan whatsoever for our long-term energy security.

Since the election, they've ripped themselves apart over energy policy. They haven't been fighting about this for six months; they've been fighting about it for two decades. That is 20 years with 23 different failed energy policies and three prime ministers torn down over the issue. We, on this side of the House, have one energy policy, and we are delivering it. It's providing certainty. This is how it's going: the head of the Australian Industry Group, responsible for manufacturing, was asked, 'Does Australia need another debate about net zero?' This is what Innes Willox had to say:

Oh, God, no. No. Anything but, please. We've been there before many times over the past 20 years or so … for many in business, there will be a lot of … eye rolling about this simply because business had hoped that the broad fundamentals were settled.

And that is what is so important. The Business Council of Australia's Bran Black—

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! The member for Lyne, the member for Forrest and the member for O'Connor, all three of you are now warned. Enough of the interjections. You've just been going non-stop. Have some control, listen to what the Prime Minister is saying, show respect, and the parliament will be a lot better for it.

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

They're actually sledging the Business Council of Australia. That is where the modern Liberal Party have got. That's where the modern Liberal Party have got. He said:

We're very much committed to net zero, we have been for some time.

Indeed they have. The business community wants investment certainty. That is what we're delivering. (Time expired)