Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Farrell. Minister, prior to the election, now Prime Minister Albanese said:

… if I ever do make a mistake, I'll put my hand up. I'll own it. I'll take responsibility, and I'll set about fixing it.

Mr Albanese, without question, promised that Australian power bills would be coming down. The Labor Party promised not just once but 97 times before the election that Australians were going to see a reduction of $275 in their power bills. Minister, why won't Mr Albanese own up to his mistake, take responsibility for the broken promise and set about fixing it by delivering to Australians the $275 reduction they were promised they would receive?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Reynolds for her question. I think we've discovered in Prime Minister Albanese one of Australia's great prime ministers.

I'm smiling, Senator Henderson, because I'm so happy—

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That power bills are going up?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No. I'm so happy that Australia has finally got a really decent prime minister—somebody who genuinely understands the issues facing Australian consumers. Of course, higher electricity prices are one of them. What was one of the first things that the new Prime Minister did on taking office? He inherited this mess. He inherited 10 years of neglect on the part of the former government, and what did he seek to do? He sought to put downward pressure on electricity prices. He saw, as quickly as he could, what your 10 years of neglect had done to electricity prices. So what did he do? He introduced a cap on gas prices and coal prices to push that pressure down. He can't fix every single problem that you've created. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Reynolds, first supplementary?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm sure we're all very happy that you're happy, but I don't think Australians are very happy about the broken promises. My supplementary question is this. The Prime Minister also promised the Australian people on 2 May 2022 that the Labor Party had no intention to make any changes to superannuation, but we now know that one in 10 Australians will be affected by the change they announced. Minister, when will you announce that the government has broken its promise in relation to superannuation?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Reynolds for her supplementary question. It doesn't appear to have been a supplementary question about electricity.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm simply saying—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left!

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let me finish. You missed me all of last week. Here I am, here to answer your questions, and you won't let me answer those questions.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left and my right.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for that protection, President. We've made very clear what our position on superannuation is. The figure that you mentioned, Senator Reynolds, is a figure way into the future. The reality is that the only people— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Reynolds, second supplementary?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Two out of two questions not answered on broken promises, and no wonder. My second supplementary question to the minister is this. The Prime Minister also promised to lower the cost of PBS medicines—but, guess what, another broken promise—but the government has removed, for example, life-changing drugs from the PBS, one of which is now being relied on by 15,000 Australians who suffer from type 1 diabetes. Despite the minister doing an embarrassing backflip on Friday, now listing it until October— (Time expired)

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Reynolds, for your question. I'm also a diabetic, and I very much appreciate the way in which the PBS assists me with my particular products that I am required to use.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Farrell, please resume your seat. Senator Reynolds?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A question of relevance. This was about what the minister was going to do for yet another broken promise on the PBS—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Reynolds.

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and it's not about his own personal medical situation.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Reynolds, there was so much preamble to your supplementary that it wasn't actually a question; it was a statement.

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is this a secondary point of order?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With respect, while, yes, it is a sad story of a broken promise—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Reynolds, what is the point of order?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

it was not about Senator Farrell's health.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. Minister Farrell.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The particular drug I think you mentioned—is it Fiasp? Yes. It's a fast-acting insulin drug for diabetes. Minister Butler's office was made aware on 22 February 2023 of Novo Nordisk's intention to—

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Are you going to stand by that? You can't mislead the Senate.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please. You've asked a question; I'm directly answering the question, and then you're talking the whole way through the answer, and I don't get a chance to answer the question. (Time expired)