Jenny McAllister NSW, Australian Labor Party
2:00 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Scullion. I refer to the Treasurer, who says:
… let's not think that there's cheap new coal, there's not.
Does the minister agree with the Treasurer?
Nigel Scullion NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs
Look, I don't really know the context of those particular words, and I'd have to look—as always, with the abundance of caution in these matters in this place—to ensure the context before I could answer that. But can I say that I have listened to my colleague Matt Canavan—Senator Canavan, who I'm representing today—on so many occasions talk about the necessity for a range of hydrocarbon answers to the power that we require at the moment. He comes from Queensland and he knows, as does everybody on this side, that coal has to be a complete and utter part of the answer. So I am a believer that the reality is that, in terms of the power mix in this country, coal has to be an absolutely fundamental part of the future.
Jenny McAllister NSW, Australian Labor Party
2:02 pm
Before I ask my supplementary question, can I clarify whether Minister Scullion was taking my first question on notice. I wasn't clear whether he did or not.
Stephen Parry President
I will advise the minister to clarify that. Minister, were you taking any portion of that question on notice?
Nigel Scullion NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs
No, I wasn't.
Stephen Parry President
Thank you. Senator McAllister, that's now clarified. A supplementary question?
Jenny McAllister NSW, Australian Labor Party
Thank you. The Australian Financial Review reported earlier this week:
Treasurer … Morrison says the era of cheap, coal-fired power is coming to an end …
Is the Treasurer correct?
Nigel Scullion NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs
Again, I'd have to take the Treasurer's notes in context. I will take that on notice, but I will have to check the context of the Treasurer's utterances, and I'll get back to the senator on that matter.
Stephen Parry President
Senator McAllister, a final supplementary question.
Jenny McAllister NSW, Australian Labor Party
2:03 pm
I refer to the former Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Canavan, who said:
The coalition position is crystal clear: we back coal.
Given the Treasurer's statements, can it be assumed that the coalition's position has changed since Senator Canavan resigned from the ministry?
Nigel Scullion NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs
No, that can't be assumed to be the case.