Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Green, Chisholm, Bilyk, Brown, Sterle, Watt, Pratt, Dodson, Polley and Lines move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction has publicly threatened to use his so-called 'big stick' legislation to force state governments to privatise publicly­-owned power assets,

  (ii) the Member for Hinkler and other National Party MPs have stated that divestment powers are "urgently needed to deal with the state power monopoly in Queensland", and

  (iii) privatisation of publicly-owned power assets has led to higher power prices for consumers; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to rule out privatisation of publicly-owned power assets in Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) | Link to this | Hansard source

Given the opposition were provided a copy of the bill before it was introduced, they could have confirmed for themselves that the bill ensures if divestment powers are ordered by a court, publicly owned entities cannot be forcibly privatised. After opposing this bill 13 times in the last parliament, it is disappointing that those opposite are laying the groundwork to again vote against protecting households and small businesses from dodgy dealings as exposed by the ACC.

Question agreed to.