Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. Four times in question time this week the Prime Minister has described his government's energy policy as 'technology agnostic'. Yesterday, former Prime Minister Abbott said:

… when he says that the government is technology neutral, he's wrong.

Does the minister agree with former Prime Minister Abbott that Prime Minister Turnbull is wrong?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Marshall, a supplementary question.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister confirm that Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack, took a two-page list of energy demands to the Prime Minister, including a $5 billion fund to help fund new coal-fired power?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What I would say to my good friend and valued colleague the senator from the great state of Victoria is, don't believe everything you read in the newspaper. The other thing I would say is that, unlike the Labor Party, the coalition is a vibrant party where we're having policy debate about how we can best ensure that we continue to bring down electricity prices and that we continue to improve energy reliability across Australia, because that is important for families and it is important for business. It's important for our competitiveness as an economy moving forward.

That is in sharp contrast with the way the Labor leader, Mr Shorten, approaches these things. He's so scared of his own caucus, he's not even prepared to take a plan for higher taxes on business to his caucus. In the last few days we've found out why, because one Labor member and senator after the other is popping out and speaking out against him. We've got the member for Bass—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order. Senator Wong on a point of order.

Senator Abetz interjecting—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm rarely cheered by Senator Abetz, so I'll take the cheering! My point of order is on direct relevance. It's all very interesting, but the minister was actually asked to confirm whether or not—

A government senator interjecting—

I'm happy to take the interjection. You simply talked about newspapers; we just asked you to confirm or otherwise. That was the only question.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has two seconds left on the clock, if he'd like to continue his answer.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Bill Shorten is a socialist who stands for higher taxes.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Cormann. I'm taking a point of order from Senator Wong.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That really was a deliberate flouting of the standing orders. I'd ask you to—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, the minister did not complete his sentence before I called him to order. I called him to order instantly. I call Senator Marshall for his final supplementary question.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank minister for his advice about the media and his acknowledgement that Victoria is indeed a great state. Will the minister rule out providing a loan facility or any other taxpayer funded support to build a new coal-fired power station or to extend the life of an existing coal-fired power station?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There was a great motion in the Senate yesterday that I think the Senate voted on. What the government made very clear yesterday is that our National Energy Guarantee, which is our policy, will actually facilitate, in a completely technology-neutral way, the necessary energy generation, including coal-fired power generation, into the future. It is expected that, by 2030, 60 per cent of our energy generation will still come from coal under our National Energy Guarantee. We want to get the best deal for Australian families—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong on a point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point of order is on direct relevance. There was only one question: would the minister rule out the provision of a loan facility or other taxpayer support for new coal-fired power?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You've reminded the minister of the question, Senator Wong. He has 21 seconds remaining to answer.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The thing that Senator Wong finds difficult is that Labor gets to ask the questions and I get to answer the questions.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Collins.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I actually didn't hear the first phrase. I was taking note of your point of order. I'll ask Senator Cormann to return to the question asked in his remaining—

Senator Jacinta Collins interjecting—

Order, Senator Collins! I'm ruling on your point of order, if you could remain silent while I do so. I ask you to return to the question, Senator Cormann.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I've already indicated, the government's policy is the National Energy Guarantee. That will be able to facilitate any electricity generation necessary in our national interest.