Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. Since the election in May 2022, a key priority of the Albanese Labor government has been building new energy generation and storage. How important is it for the government to secure Australia's energy system, and what are alternative views in the community about energy security?

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

Thank you, Senator Brown. I think we got a fair bit of exposure to what the alternative views are just a minute ago. We say as a government that energy security, fuel security, is industrial policy; it is economic policy. It means, as our unreliable coal-fired power station system collapses around its ears because of the failure of the show over there, that we need to rebuild our electricity system in a responsible way. It's not the way of One Nation and some of their friends in the Nationals and the Liberals; they're retweeting propaganda.

While we've got to a position, in this country, where our fuel reserves are the best they've been for 15 years, far-right extremist scaremongering from over there has had people lining up at petrol stations when there was no need. People over there talk about war profiteers. The show over here are political war profiteers. They love creating a sense of crisis, they love creating a sense of drama and—

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

Senator Nampijinpa Price?

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Industry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, could you please ask the senator to address his answers through the chair?

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

I certainly will; thank you, Senator. Minister Ayres?

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

The Morrison government did more than any other government, with Mr Taylor leading on energy, to undermine Australia's energy policy security. The dimmest bulbs in that government then came to occupy the frontbench during the course of the last term, and the architects of last term's genius economic policy, the low-watt dim wattage bulbs, are now in charge. The shadow ERC of last term are the geniuses who are now in charge of driving this show right over a cliff.

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

Senator McKenzie?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As much as I want to recall sitting on that side of the chamber, this minister—

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

Senator McKenzie, resume your seat! That's twice I've had to call you today. You are well accustomed to the standing orders. You don't just stand up and start to make a statement. Minister Ayres, I think your time has expired. Senator Brown, first supplementary?

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government's energy policy backs in private investment in the energy system. Why is providing investors with confidence important for building a modern energy system, and how does it help ensure energy policy is fiscally responsible?

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

It is important, and it's an important question because, if you get that right, it means the cost of investment doesn't fall wholly on the federal budget. The private sector does need policy certainty to invest, and that's something that the Liberal Party's recently released election manifesto, or review, makes clear. If you decide that you're going to publicly fund a $600 billion nuclear fiasco, not only does the market desert you—not only does investment disappear—but the public desert you as well.

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

On a point of order, could you please ask the minister to address his answer through the chair.

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

I will remind the senator to address his comments through the chair.

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

You would think, President, that the shadow ERC, referenced in the election review, would have picked up on this risk. That would be until you realise that the shadow ERC included, as former prime minister Turnbull said, 'Australia's best qualified idiot', Mr Taylor—Dead Cat Bounce Taylor—and, of course, Senator Hume.

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

Senator Brown, second supplementary?

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Building a modern energy system is a major undertaking. The Albanese Labor government is working hard to ensure the Australian people understand our energy policies and our rationale for the policies we implement. How important is it to explain major policies like energy to the public? What are some risks if this does not occur?

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

This is a question, of course, that goes to coherence when it comes to energy policy and energy policy leadership. What you need to have—and the Liberal Party review that you should all read. Mr Taylor, as Ms Savva points out, was completely immoral—I think the phrase she used was 'completely foolish and naive'—in seeking to hide it from you, but it makes clear that if you are trying to sell a $600 billion nuclear fiasco, what you need as a minimum is communication between the leadership and the party machine. You need a shadow ERC that's up to the task. You need political leadership that's focused not on hard-right preoccupations and imported ideologies but on the interests of ordinary Australians. That's what Australia needs. That's what the Liberal Party needed. (Time expired)

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

I ask that further questions be placed on notice.