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

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. Minister, labour productivity in the electricity, gas, water and waste sector has fallen by six per cent since you came to office. Lower productivity in energy production increases costs and therefore increases energy prices, yet, in the government's productivity paper prepared for its economic roundtable, energy productivity or energy prices were not even mentioned. How many jobs have been lost because of rising electricity costs on business?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There's some of this territory, I think, that Senator Canavan and I agree upon, and some that we don't. It's certainly the case that electricity prices, electricity supply, gas supply and gas prices are fundamental questions for Australian industry. Australian industry needs affordable electricity, and it needs affordable gas. That is why this government and the announcements that have been made in relation to the reviews of the national electricity market, reviews in terms of the gas market—those reviews have been undertaken. And, as you would imagine, I'm very engaged with industry about that important work because it is important work.

One message that is really clear coming back from Australian industry—heavy industry, blue-collar industry, manufacturing sector, future industrial investors who want to invest in, for example iron production or critical minerals production in Australia and the current industrial production sector—is that what they want is policy certainty. What they want is a policy framework that delivers more investment in electricity.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a point of order in relation to relevance. The question was about the impact of higher electricity prices on this government and how many jobs have been lost as a result.

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

On the point of order, I submit that Senator Ayres was entirely relevant to a question that deals with the impact of electricity on the economy and industries.

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

Senator Ayres, I will draw you to the first part of Senator Canavan's question, which went to gas and electricity prices.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It certainly did, and the one thing that would guarantee a bin fire, in terms of gas and electricity prices, would be the approach urged by those opposite, and the contest—if only we could provide energy in Australia from the hot waffle that's been emerging from the bitter contest for control of the Liberal and National parties over there. We saw the outcome of that—less electricity, less gas.

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

Senator Canavan, first supplementary?

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

Under the Albanese Labor government, electricity prices have skyrocketed by 39 per cent, and yesterday's inflation figures show that electricity prices have gone up by another 13 per cent over the past year. Even after taking out the impacts of the rebates that have ended, electricity prices went up by five per cent. The government continues to insist that its investments in wind and solar are the cheapest forms of energy. Why are electricity prices going up by so much, then?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I mean, honestly! The last time this show was in government, you promised gas prices between $4 and $6, and, when you left office, gas prices were north of $31. Of course, if we are serious about the future of Australian industry, the big challenge in front of Australia is building our modern electricity system as our industries electrify and as new industry comes onstream which will have an increasing demand for electricity, particularly data centres. That is why it is a mystery to all of us why your side of politics went to the last election with a plan to put prices up and to deliver less industrial electricity.

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

Senator Canavan, second supplementary?

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

Australian families and businesses can't keep absorbing higher power bills. On what date will the average annual bill be lower than it was on 23 May 2022 and by how many dollars?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Electricity prices will be lower when there is more supply. There is more supply now than there ever was when you were in government. We are building electricity generation hand over fist here, and the big obstacle to electricity generation programs and transmission projects in the regions—of course we have to work with regional communities and work these issues through. But it's the silly billies wandering around, stoking fear, stoking resentment—Senator Cadell, Senator Canavan and all these characters—and who are wandering around in a campaign against Australian industry and a campaign against blue-collar jobs, doing everything that they can to close down Australian industry.