Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Australians have a part-time energy minister delivering a part-time energy grid. This part-time minister for climate change and energy, full-time president, is absent from parliament today, prioritising global summits ahead of reducing power prices for Australians. Prime Minister, how many days will the part-time minister spend overseas in his new role as full-time president?

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

I thank the member for her question. It goes to a couple of issues; it goes to energy and it also goes to the role that Minister Bowen will have in the COP negotiations. I don't know if those opposite have participated very much in international forums, but, if they had—it's a bit like other things. The crunch points of negotiations come at the end; they come when the conference is on. That's what happens.

But in the lead-up to that there will be a meeting in the Pacific about climate change. You know why? Because it's the priority. It's the first priority, the second priority and the third priority because, without action on climate change, countries like Kiribati and Tuvalu will disappear underwater. Those opposite thought it was fine to make jokes about water lapping at the doors. That was what they did when they were in government to improve relations with our Pacific island families. That was their response. And every single one of them remembers that. But it indeed should be a source of bipartisan pride when Australians succeed. Just like when we bid for the UN Security Council, those opposite talked it down, opposed the bid just like they opposed people running for positions at the United Nations. We on this side don't do that. We on this side back Australia. Backing Australia is what we do.

Now, I'm asked about power and I'm asked about the difference it will make. There have been some business reactions to the coalition's dumping of net zero, a policy that the Leader of the Opposition supported before a few weeks ago, a policy that was put in place by the Morrison government.

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

Order! Members on my right, the manager is entitled to raise his point of order, and he shall do so now.

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

On relevance: the Prime Minister wasn't asked about our policy. He was asked about President Bowen's overseas schedule.

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

The Prime Minister has outlined his answer to the question that he was directly asked about, so I don't know where else he's going with this, but I will make sure he's being directly relevant to the question he was asked. The Prime Minister in continuation.

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

I was asked about power prices in Australia, and the Australian Industry Group said, via Innes Willox:

There's no industry interest in going backward on net zero. Reopening that debate is akin to asking Australian businesses to stop investing and stand by to watch the political equivalent of a refight of the Battle of Stalingrad. It serves no good purpose …

The ACCI chair, Andrew McKellar, said of their policy:

To characterise it at the moment, it seems to be a bit of a plan not to have a plan, unfortunately.

Dead right.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The Manager of Opposition Business, members on my left, we're not going to have that level of interjection.