Senate debates

Monday, 11 September 2017

Questions without Notice

Renewable Energy

2:21 pm

Photo of Jacinta CollinsJacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister Senator Brandis. Yesterday the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Josh Frydenberg, said:

… renewables play an important part of the energy mix.

Does this reflect the Turnbull government's position?

Photo of George BrandisGeorge Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | | Hansard source

It certainly does, Senator Collins, which is why the minister responsible for this area, Mr Frydenberg, said so.

Photo of Stephen ParryStephen Parry (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Collins, a supplementary question.

Photo of Jacinta CollinsJacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | | Hansard source

I refer to reports that Queensland Liberal-National Party member George Christensen will cross the floor, if the government attempts to legislate a clean energy target. Has the Prime Minister explained the government's position to Mr Christensen?

2:22 pm

Photo of George BrandisGeorge Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Collins, Mr Christensen has his views as he's perfectly entitled to. Senator Birmingham tried to explain to your colleague Senator Moore in his answer that one of the differences between those who sit on this side of the chamber and those on your side of the chamber is that we actually rejoice in the fact that we can have a vigorous debate and we can have a multiplicity of views on important issues.

Mr Christensen is a member of the backbench. He has a strong view about these matters, which he is not afraid of expressing, volubly and frequently, but, nevertheless, the view that he expresses is not the policy of the government.

Photo of Stephen ParryStephen Parry (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Collins, a final supplementary question.

2:23 pm

Photo of Jacinta CollinsJacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | | Hansard source

When asked by the ABC's Leigh Sales whether the government would make a decision on the clean energy target before the end of the year, the Prime Minister said:

We're certainly aiming to do so, Leigh.

Isn't it clear that, with coalition MPs threatening to cross the floor, the policy paralysis that is costing energy consumers will only continue under this government?

Photo of George BrandisGeorge Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | | Hansard source

No, Senator Collins. Once again, Senator Collins, all you're interested in is the politics of an issue. What we're interested in is getting the policy right, and that is why, as the Treasurer, Mr Morrison, pointed out to Andrew Probyn on Insiders yesterday, we've taken a number of measures in order to protect the interests of Australian consumers to ensure they have reliable and affordable supply. We have restricted gas exports—something, by the way, that you ought to have done and Mr Butler last week conceded the failure to do had a significant effect on domestic energy prices and was a serious mistake.

We've ensured that Australia's energy suppliers are giving Australian consumers the best deal they can give them by being more transparent about their pricing. We've ensured new regulatory arrangements in particular to prevent the— (Time expired)