Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade) | Hansard source

I'm grateful as always for Senator Ciccone's support, but I have been called far, far worse things, I can assure you! But a whole industry—it was not a small industry; it was a very big industry that was consequential for Australia's future—was closed down, and they laughed it off. For them, it was an article of faith to force those manufacturing jobs offshore. When we look over our shoulder, we see there was no electoral mandate. They never went to the people of Victoria and South Australia and said: 'Guess what? We think it would be a good idea if we shut your industry down.' So, looking over your shoulder, you see that's what happened in the past.

What about the future? They have this idea that industry shouldn't have to consider what approach future governments might have, when they have this catastrophe over there for our energy sector, the 'disinvestment Dutton show' that is determined to drive investment in our energy sector offshore. And they want to complain that this government went to not one but two elections very, very clear about what it was that we would do. And of course the energy sector is utterly consequential for the future of this country. So we are—