Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

I'm not going to come in here and play 'do I agree with somebody's statements or disagree with somebody's statements'. We respect Dr Schott's work and analysis, and indeed we are acting on the recommendations of the National Energy Guarantee. If you value her words so much then you should sign up to the National Energy Guarantee. As you rightly point out, it was the Chair of the Energy Security Board—the Energy Security Board which has recommended the National Energy Guarantee—so you have to ask: why does the Labor Party continue to play ducks and drakes over their position on the National Energy Guarantee? Why is it that Mr Shorten cannot give a straight answer when it comes to whether or not the Labor Party will support the National Energy Guarantee? Why is it? Of course, it's because the Labor Party is still trying to cling to their 45 per cent emissions reduction target—a 45 per cent target that, of course, we know will see much higher prices and much lower reliability and destroy aspects of the Australian economy. (Time expired)