Julian McGauran Victoria, National Party
2:33 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy, Senator Sherry. Minister, knowing that you always prepare well for question time, I refer you to the Minister for Resources and Energy's comments yesterday that the carbon tax could cause some coalmines to close. Will the minister inform the Senate on what basis the minister's comments were made?
Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism
Thank you, indeed, for the compliment, Senator McGauran. It may be your last question and I want to compliment you—
Kim Carr Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
On surviving this long!
Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism
I do want to compliment you on your longevity in this place; and all the best to you, if indeed it is your last question. In terms of the coalmining sector, the real threat to the competitive position of the Australian economy does not come from the government's carbon price policy. It comes from you, Senator McGauran—through you, Mr President—or, I should say, from the opposition that you of course represent. The abandonment—
Kim Carr Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
When you were in the National Party.
Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism
Well, yes. I am not going to go there; I am not going to be unkind to Senator McGauran.
Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism
I am not going to be unkind. The abandonment—
Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism
Senator Carr, please!
Ian Macdonald Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia
Mr President, I raise a point of order on the attitude of one of the people over there who masquerades as a minister. This week, in the final weeks of several senators from all sides, everyone has been absolutely gracious except that thug who represents the Left in Victoria, and I ask you to bring him to order.
John Hogg President
Senator Macdonald, there is no point of order. The minister has a one minute 14 remaining to address the question. I draw the minister's attention to the question.
Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism
In this week when we are reflecting on the contributions of senators who depart, I agree with Senator Macdonald. I am trying my very best in this final twilight of Senator McGauran's career in this place to get to an answer. I am just being so rudely interrupted.
It comes from the opposition's abandonment of the fundamental belief in markets and rational economics and the opposition leader, Mr Abbott's, embrace of totally irresponsible and politically opportune fearmongering. That is what we are seeing. In order to support jobs and compete in the next century, a century which will increasingly be—
Julian McGauran Victoria, National Party
Mr President, I rise on a point of order. I rarely take points of order; in all the time I have been here I have taken only two or three points of order, Senator Sherry. I did compliment you and say that you were always well prepared for question time, so I bring you back to the question: on what basis did the Minister for Resources and Energy, Mr Ferguson, whom you represent here, make those comments? You have 29 seconds to answer that question.
John Hogg President
There is no point of order. The minister has 29 seconds remaining. I draw your attention to the question, Minister.
Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism
The government and my colleague Minister Ferguson do recognise that the coal industry is a very important and vital part of our economy. We have always said that every cent raised from a carbon price will be used to assist households, support jobs and make the transition to a clean energy future. That is why we are consulting very closely with the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee on assistance measures for coalmining operations. My colleague Minister Ferguson has made that very clear. (Time expired)
Julian McGauran Victoria, National Party
2:38 pm
(Victoria) (): Mr President, I ask a supplementary question.
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
There is a blacksmith shop going cheaply in Ballarat.
Julian McGauran Victoria, National Party
And the DLP hate the Labor Party. That's why I kept them going.
Government senators interjecting—
Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism
Mr President, how can that possibly be a supplementary question?
Julian McGauran Victoria, National Party
That interjection by me was a bit outrageous. I will ask my supplementary question. Minister, it defies belief that such a good minister as yourself would not have spoken to Mr Ferguson about his comments. I ask with some confidence: was the Minister for Resources and Energy's admission that mines may close based on modelling? If so, what modelling?
Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism
2:39 pm
There was a survey commissioned by the Australian Coal Association that assumes that no assistance will be provided to the coal industry. This is inaccurate. The government recognises that the coal industry is a vital part of our economy. It is a particularly vital part of our economy. The vast majority of Australia's coalmining industry is not emissions intensive and will face materially increased costs under a carbon price. As to the DLP, I cannot go to that issue, clearly.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism
Well, if you ask a question—
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General
I rise on a point of order on relevance, Mr President. The question was about modelling and whether the statement was based on modelling and if so what it was. The minister has not got anywhere near it, and you know that.
John Hogg President
Senator Sherry, I draw your attention to the fact that there are 18 seconds remaining to answer the question.
Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism
I make the point that if you ask a question then I am here to try to answer it. I cannot answer the first supplementary question that you originally posed. On the modelling issue, I do not know whether or not there has been any modelling done, so I will take it on notice.
Julian McGauran Victoria, National Party
2:41 pm
You are becoming a great disappointment, Senator Sherry.
Julian McGauran Victoria, National Party
Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question more in hope than in confidence that the minister is across some part of this brief. To which mines was the Minister for Resources and Energy referring when he talked about mines closing?
Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism
I am sorry I am disappointing you in your second last week, Senator McGauran.
Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism
I am sorry. Senator McGauran and I have always had a good relationship.
John Hogg President
Senator Sherry, just answer the question and leave the other material out. Senator Sherry, continue. You have 54 seconds remaining to answer the question.
Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism
We have had a good relationship, and I would hate to disappoint him on this occasion. We are closely consulting with the coal industry—
An opposition senator: Which mines?
John Hogg President
Senator Sherry, ignore the interjection. You have 46 seconds remaining to answer the question.
Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism
I was trying to answer, but I keep getting these interjections. We are consulting with the coal industry closely on measures for affected coalmining operations and remain committed to—
Government senators interjecting—
John Hogg President
Keep going, Senator Sherry. I am listening closely to your answer.
Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism
We do remain committed to assuring the competitiveness of our mining sector, including the coalmining sector. I do not have any advice to hand as to any particular mining operation. I hate to disappoint Senator McGauran, but I will have to take that on notice.
Julian McGauran Victoria, National Party
I will give you my postal address.