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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. I refer to the article in this morning's Australian entitled 'NEG rebels try to force walkouts'. Can the minister confirm that the Prime Minister held a second round of crisis talks with members of his own party room yesterday to stop them voting against his energy policy?

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

No, I can't confirm that. What I can confirm is that in this government there is ongoing policy discussion on matters of national interest. Do you know what we are interested in? We on this side of politics are interested in lower electricity prices and more reliable energy supplies. In the lead-up to the next election, Labor will go to the election with an agenda of higher electricity prices, which will hurt families, which will hurt pensioners and which will cost jobs. We will be going with an agenda that will bring down the cost of electricity and improve the reliability of our energy supplies.

Our Prime Minister is a very consultative Prime Minister. Our Prime Minister is a very inclusive Prime Minister. Our Prime Minister is somebody who enjoys engaging in policy discussions with his colleagues. We on this side of the chamber are absolutely committed to getting this reform absolutely right. I cannot confirm what the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate asserted, but I can confirm that, as a matter of business as usual, we continue to have discussions as appropriate about the right policy decisions for the future.

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

Senator Wong, a supplementary question.

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

Has the Prime Minister met or had discussions with any members of the executive in order to urge them not to vote against his energy policy?

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

The Prime Minister meets with members of the executive on a daily basis.

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

Senator Wong, a further supplementary question.

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

Can the minister rule out having raised with any senator the prospect of government and taxpayer funding of new coal-fired power stations in exchange for a senator's support for either the National Energy Guarantee or the government's company tax cuts?

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

I stand by my answer to my first question. We continue to talk about which policies can best deliver lower electricity prices for households, for families and for pensioners and which policies can best deliver lower electricity prices so that our businesses can continue to be internationally competitive, create more jobs and create better opportunities for families to get ahead.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You can't rule it out.

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

Here we go—they want me to play the rule in, rule out game.

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

Yes, we do.

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

I'm not going to play the rule in, rule out game. What I am going to do, together with all of my colleagues, is continue to assess all of the issues and continue to work on the best way forward in our national interest.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You've got to get behind someone before you can stab them in the back.

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

Is that how you do it?

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

Order! Senator Cormann and Senator Carr.

Senator Kim Carr interjecting—

Senator Carr, we will try to keep peace during questions.