Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Minister Wong, representing the Prime Minister. Over the weekend we saw Victoria and Tasmania announced their plans to make public transport free, as the Greens have been campaigning for for several weeks. The government supported this illegal war which has led to the fuel crisis. Free public transport would give cost-of-living relief and reduce demand in the cities and thus free up fuel for our regions, for farmers. New South Wales is saying that cost is the barrier to them also making public transport free. National Cabinet just wrapped up, and there was no announcement about public transport. Why are you refusing to reduce demand in this fuel crisis by funding the states to introduce free public transport to help families, farmers and fuel security?

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

On the provision of free or lower cost public transport, we welcome that, and that is a good thing. I understand that Victoria and Tasmania already have done so and that other states and territories have also looked at lower cost public transport. Obviously, the more that we, through voluntary measures and through choice, can reduce our fuel usage, particularly in the cities, then the more capacity there is to address some of those distributional challenges that we are seeing in regional Australia, which as Senator McGrath correctly points out has impacts on our economy now and also into the future. We welcome states and territories who do that.

The government has put in place a very substantial package today. There is obviously a significant cost to the budget from the fuel and diesel excise reduction and the heavy vehicle road user charge changes that we have put in place. But we believe that they are important and at a time when we see fuel prices where they are, as a consequence of this conflict.

I will just take issue, if I may, with the way in which the Australian Greens continue to run a political argument but never recognise the choice that Iran has made about how it is responding, including civilian targets. I await their condemnation of Iran attacking non-combatant nations, and I await your condemnation of Iran attacking civilian targets, and I await your condemnation of Iran holding the Strait of Hormuz and therefore the international fuel market hostage. I look forward to it.

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You're a downright embarrassment.

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

Come to order, Senator Shoebridge! Senator Waters, first supplementary?

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We clearly condemn all war crimes and this illegal war. Gas corporations continue to make windfall wartime profits, and ordinary people are paying the price while gas companies profit from their pain. A 25 per cent gas tax would generate $17 billion in revenue, and with the Greens you'd have the numbers to pass a gas export tax of at least 25 per cent. Why won't you stare down the greedy gas corporations and make them finally pay their fair share so we can fund free public transport and other cost of living— (Time expired)

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I just ask for your direction as to how that supplementary question can be in any way relevant to the primary question.

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

Thank you; I will seek the advice of the Clerk. I'll inform the Senate that your first question, Senator Waters, was about public transport fees, and now your second question is largely about tax. I will invite Minister Wong to answer it in—

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's public transport and fuel; it's not rocket science.

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

Order! I'm making the decisions here, Senator Waters, not you. I will ask Minister Wong to answer the question in whatever way she thinks fits.

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

I will do so, but I would say from public transport to tax is quite a long—

Honourable Senator:

An honourable senator interjecting—

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

Well, that has never been the rule in the Senate about supplementary questions, and I'd invite you to have a look at Odgers'but that's not up to you. I know this is a position of the Greens political party. I certainly understand that there is a focus on this. The government will consider all of the public policy implications of many of the proposals which are being put to us prior to the budget and in the context of the budget.

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

Senator Waters, second supplementary?

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If this crisis has taught us anything, it's that we need to end our dependence on fossil fuels. We could be electrifying trucks which transport our food around the country. However, your government has indicated that the Electric Vehicle Fringe Benefits Tax exemption is on the chopping block in this year's budget. In a fuel crisis, will this budget help support electrifying our transport system and helping people to buy electric vehicles?

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

Senator Watt?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, again, question time is not a magical, mystery tour across the Greens platform—

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

It's also not a time to make statements.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

But, again, I seek your direction as to whether that supplementary is relevant.

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

Sure. Towards the end of Senator Waters's question, she did tie it back to the fuel crisis, so the question is relevant.

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

We'll make decisions in the budget context.