Matt O'Sullivan WA, Liberal Party
2:40 pm
My question is to Senator Farrell, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Yesterday during question time, you declared to the Senate:
What Prime Minister Albanese says , he does.
Mr Albanese said not once but on 97 separate occasions that Australians were going to see a reduction of $275 in their power bills. Minister, when will Australians get a $275 reduction to their power bills?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
I thank the senator for his question, which seems to be a repeat of questions asked earlier in the week. I have to say that, on a historic day when the Prime Minister announces the recognition of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, here I am at the third question, and we haven't had a single question about the big issue of the day.
Sue Lines President
Minister, Farrell, please resume your seat. Senator O'Sullivan?
Matt O'Sullivan WA, Liberal Party
On relevance: clearly my question was about electricity bills and the prices that Australians can expect to pay, and we're getting an answer on the Voice.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Prime Minister Albanese, just like me, is deeply concerned about the issue of electricity. The Prime Minister and I are deeply concerned about the issue of electricity prices in this country for ordinary working Australians—and businesses, for that matter. Now, the reality is that the reason that we find ourselves in a situation with escalating electricity prices is the 10 long years of inaction by the former government on the pressures in relation to electricity prices and, of course, the issue of climate change.
Now, what did we do as soon as we came into government? We took action on electricity prices. We sought to put a cap on gas prices. We sought a cap on coal prices to push the price of electricity down. And what did your mob do? You voted against it. You wanted to keep electricity prices high. (Time expired)
Matt O'Sullivan WA, Liberal Party
2:42 pm
Does Labor's Powering Australia plan say:
It will cut power bills for families and businesses by $275 a year …
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
2:43 pm
We have taken all of the action that we have in respect of power prices to put downward pressure on electricity prices in this country to repair the previous nine years of neglect from your government.
Matt O'Sullivan WA, Liberal Party
A point of order on direct relevance: the question asked very simply whether or not Labor's Powering Australia plan said:
It will cut power bills for families and businesses by $275 a year …
I seek leave to—
Honourable senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
Senator O'Sullivan, please resume your seat. You were on a point of order. There was so much interjection, it was very hard to hear. I will rule on the point of order. I will direct the minister to your question and I will also ask the minister to—you are seeking leave now? Is leave granted?
Matt O'Sullivan WA, Liberal Party
I haven't explained what—
Leave not granted.
Honourable senators interjecting—
With respect, President—
Sue Lines President
No, it's not with respect. I asked if leave was granted, and the answer was no. There's no point debating it with me. Please resume your seat. I have the minister on his feet.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
It is customary, when somebody's seeking to table a document, to—
Honourable senators interjecting—
I don't know what the senator has got in his hand. The leader yesterday had the courtesy to hand me a copy of the document that he wanted to put forward, and I'm happy to look at any document which the opposition seeks to table, and respond.
Sue Lines President
Senator O'Sullivan, the minister has invited you to show him the document so he may consider the response. Senator Birmingham?
Simon Birmingham SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
on indulgence—Given the invitation of the Acting Leader of the Government in the Senate, here it is, and perhaps he'd like to read the highlighted line to the chamber.
Sue Lines President
So we're going to go back to the question. I've asked the minister to respond to the question and to be relevant to the question.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
I don't think I can be any clearer about the actions that this government has been taking to reduce the price of electricity in this country for both—
Matt O'Sullivan WA, Liberal Party
A point of order on direct relevance: the question was very tight, and we assisted the minister by providing him with Labor's policy.
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
What about your 22 policies? Have you got a ringbinder full of them?
Sue Lines President
Senator Watt, seriously! Senator O'Sullivan, the minister has agreed to look at what you're seeking to table. In relation to your question and your last point of order, I have directed him to the question.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
This government is serious about putting downward pressure on electricity prices. We came to office, with a former government with something like 22— (Time expired)
Matt O'Sullivan WA, Liberal Party
2:47 pm
Will the minister say the words 'two hundred and seventy-five dollars'?
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Hon. Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
I am going to sit the minister down again until there is respectful silence—from both sides, thank you, Senator Green.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
I thank the senator for his second supplementary question. This government is serious about putting downward pressure on electricity prices. I don't think I can be any clearer than that. Right from the time that we took office, we started taking action—
James McGrath Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition
Give me a two, give me a seven, give me a five!
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
We started taking action on putting downward pressure on electricity prices in a way—
Matt O'Sullivan WA, Liberal Party
A point of order on direct relevance, President: I asked the question 'Will the minister say the words "two hundred and seventy-five dollars"' because that's what they promised to the Australian people on nine—
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
I'm not going to have words or amounts put into my mouth. We have been the government, with the opposition opposed to cutting electricity— (Time expired)