Varun Ghosh (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Industry and Innovation, Senator Ayres. The Albanese Labor government is focused on delivering affordable and reliable electricity and gas for Australian industry. To do this, the government is upgrading and securing Australia's energy system. Minister, why it is important that the government delivers affordable and reliable energy?

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

Thank you to the senator for his question. We don't really need to speculate about the risks after what has happened over there over the course of the last few weeks. It's like a game of snakes and ladders without the ladders over there at the moment. After we've seen all that, the person most responsible, who's done more to damage Australia's energy security and electricity system, is the man who was described by a former Liberal prime minister as 'Australia's best qualified idiot'. That's what he said—'Australia's best qualified idiot'. There's been more damage to Australia's electricity and gas system from Mr Taylor than from any other person in our history. This man now wants to be the Prime Minister.

James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order—Senator Ghosh asked about cheap energy. I think Australians are wondering when that's coming.

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

That is not a point of order, Senator Paterson.

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

I mean, maybe with the same sense of anticipation that the people over at your joint were thinking about whether they were going to get breakfast or not at your fantastic hosting of that really well-celebrated event when you said you were supporting the leader. This is the same Mr Taylor who, when 24 out of 28 Australian coal-fired power stations announced their closure, did precisely nothing—'Fantastic. Great move. Well done Angus'—who changed the law just ahead of the 2022 election to hide electricity price hikes from ordinary Australians—'Fantastic. Great move. Well done Angus'—who promised to spend $1 billion to deliver an extra—

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

Order! Minister, the time for responding has expired. I remind you to refer to those in the other place by their correct titles, and I remind you to answer the question as given to you by Senator Ghosh. Senator Ghosh, first supplementary?

Varun Ghosh (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government's plan for industrial energy is focused on building new generation, storage and implementing the recommendations from the Gas Market Review, including a gas reservation. Why has the government chosen this approach, and what are alternative views in the community about industrial energy policy?

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

Unlike the rabble over there, we are focused squarely on the national interest on these questions, delivering cheaper electricity, delivering more generation, delivering more transmission, against the backdrop of what occurred the last moment—

Opposition Senator:

An opposition senator interjecting—

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

I'll take the interjection on Tomago very happily, because the solution there is not Mr Taylor's solution. Mr Taylor's solution was to go to industry, when he was a consultant, and tell industry to go to China. That's what Mr Taylor said. In his presentation, when he was a consultant, what he told industry to do, what he told the aluminium sector to do, was to go to China. Those were his words. 'Go to China.'

The Albanese government is working with the aluminium sector, fighting day after day, working with the New South Wales government to deliver new electricity generation and new transmission, because what you left them with was a death sentence for those jobs.

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

Senator Ghosh, second supplementary?

Varun Ghosh (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government is revitalising Australian manufacturing and delivering good blue-collar jobs in our outer-suburban and regional areas. How is the government delivering on this goal, and what parts of the community will benefit from a stronger Australian manufacturing sector?

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

Thank you for that question. This is the government with the biggest pro-manufacturing-industry package of any Australian government in our history. It is voted against all of the time by those opposite, who clearly demonstrate their lack of capacity to understand the challenges that are being faced by Australian industry. Mr Taylor did more damage to Australian industry than any energy minister in our history, and I see Mr Hastie now wandering around—I mean, he occasionally does turn up for work; I know Mr Dutton had his views about his work ethic. But standing out the front of facilities that have closed—oh, poor Sarah!

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

Senator Henderson?

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order. Once again the minister has impugned the motives of a member in the other place. I would ask that that comment be withdrawn.

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

Senator Henderson, I did not hear the comments, but I know that, if Senator Ayres did say something inappropriate, he would withdraw.

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

I happily withdraw. What we could do is clear all this up. Release the review. I mean, you're all about freedom of information over there. Release the review. Tell Australians what really went wrong with the worst Liberal economic team in our history. Senator Hume and Mr Taylor trashed the Liberal Party's economic—

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

Thank you, Senator Ayres. Minister Wong?

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

Before closing, if I may with your indulgence, I acknowledge the Julyardi Aboriginal Corporation from WA, who have sat patiently through this question time. Sorry about that. With that, I ask that further questions placed on the Notice Paper.