Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. This week the Albanese Labor government has continued to deliver cost-of-living relief to Australians and the agenda we took to the election. At the same time, the government is planning for the future, adding renewables to the grid and building the green economy of the future. Why is it important for the government to address climate change and provide policy certainty during the transition to a net zero economy?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator O'Neill for the question. It is an important question, one around how government responds to the global challenge of the transition to a net zero economy—something that countries right around the world are dealing with right now. Our focus through the campaign was to focus on cost-of-living measures, whether they be Medicare, energy bill rebates, HECS debt relief and all of those areas we have invested in and will be delivering upon during this term. We also went to the election with a very clear agenda when it comes to tackling not only the challenges of climate change but also the opportunities that come with the net zero future. Over on this side of the chamber, we settled whether or not climate change was real some years ago and have been aligning our policy response to that.

Earlier in question time, Senator Cash said that they were going to get better as an opposition. There are some smart responses I could make to that, but I think Senator Canavan made that response on my behalf when he said the coalition is 'irrelevant' right now. Maybe that's a little bit harsh, Senator Canavan, on your colleagues. But this is the mob that had, in government, 22 energy policies and didn't land one of them. Remember that? They kept rethinking their energy policy. They'd take it to the party room, and it was all over. They did that 22 times in government. They didn't land one of them, and then in the last term, as opposition, they had another one: nuclear. That didn't go so well, did it? So, perhaps, there are 23 energy policies they haven't been able to land.

Yesterday, we saw them all scarper out of the chamber so that they didn't have to give a view on it. That's what we saw. This government supports the energy transition and the opportunities that come with it, including the jobs that our community— (Time expired)

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

Senator O'Neill, first supplementary?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you so much for that answer and for explaining policy certainty. Electricity generation accounts for about one-third of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve our climate targets, we need to stay the course on the energy transition. How have the Albanese Labor government supported business and industry to seize the benefits of the transition, and how are we supporting households to do the same?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator O'Neill for another very important question. Renewable energy is the cheapest form of power—

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Not according to the CSIRO!

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

so we are supporting business and industry—I really did want to get you going, Matt. Thanks; I appreciate it! We are delivering our Future Made in Australia plan, which supports Australian businesses; committing $20 billion to Rewiring the Nation; and providing the certainty needed for investment in new energy through the Capacity Investment Scheme.

We can see what's happening over there: the coalition is 'irrelevant', according to Senator Canavan. There's no particular rush to land a position, and all of those opposite obviously support all the efforts that are being taken, except for the two senators that did manage to vote yesterday. We noticed it; believe me. We saw you all race out.

Your frontbencher went, your whip went, and your person in the chair didn't vote either. (Time expired)

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

Senator O'Neill, second supplementary?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is the cost to the economy and to households of not taking climate change seriously?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is a cost to not taking action on climate change, and we've seen it. Anyone who lives in any of the areas affected by, or who watched any of, the more extreme weather events that have occurred—including all the way up the New South Wales coast and into Queensland, with the flooding event—saw it.

Senator Cash pretends that yesterday's nonvote by her entire team—earlier today, Ms Ley was asked whether or not there was any directive to senators about not attending the vote for net zero yesterday. The Leader of the Opposition's response was that 'we are regularly in touch with senators and we are regularly in touch with members via the whip and via the Manager of Opposition Business'.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, we saw it. Of course they were in regular contact, because you all disappeared out of the chamber.

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

On a point of order, President, standing order 193(1) says:

A senator shall not reflect on any vote of the Senate …

So I wonder if Senator Gallagher might actually abide by the standing orders.

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

Senator Duniam, I think your interpretation is very liberal—I don't mean that in the party sense—but I am going to invite the minister to come back to her ministerial responsibilities.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Post your ruling on the point of order, I would make the point that the standing order refers to a vote. In fact, we're talking about the absence of a vote.

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

Senator Wong, in making my ruling, I was also being quite generous. Minister Gallagher.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

While we get on with the transition to a net zero economy and all the work that that entails, we'll watch you continue to vacate the space and leave the chamber and show absolutely zero leadership.