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

My question is to the Minister for Industry and Innovation, Senator Ayres. This morning you and the Prime Minister announced the Albanese Labor government's plan to secure the future of Tomago Aluminium and secure a thriving industrial future for the Hunter. Minister, how will this investment strengthen the job security of Hunter workers and the local economy? And what does this investment mean for the future of Australia's manufacturing capability?

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

Thank you, Senator O'Neill, for your advocacy for industrial development in New South Wales. Tomago Aluminium is Australia's youngest and largest and most efficient aluminium processing facility. This deal delivers certainty for that facility beyond 2028 through to 2038-39. It delivers jobs and investment for the 1,000 direct employees and the 5½ thousand jobs that rely upon that facility. In December, the Prime Minister stood with me in the rain at Tomago Aluminium, a facility that I've been going to for the last 25 years, and he said to those workers, some of whom I know very well, 'We have your back.'

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

I have a point of order going to disruptive behaviour. Could Senator McDonald perhaps at least pause in her interjections?

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

I quite agree with you, Minister Wong. I have been calling for order. Senator McDonald, I am appealing to you directly to cease and desist. Minister Ayres, please continue.

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

Today, in a shared approach with New South Wales—never forget that, when this facility was established, it was established by the Labor government of Neville Wran, who built the electricity infrastructure that was required to deliver that colossal investment. And it falls to two Labor governments to do that again—to build the electricity infrastructure that was never built by those people over there that will sustain this facility and those thousands and thousands of jobs for years and years to come.

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

Order!

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

We have industrial investment in the Hunter for as far as the eye can see. Hundreds and hundreds of apprenticeships will be delivered because of the decision of this government to deliver, in the national interest, not just a future made in Australia but a future made in the Hunter that will strengthen Australia's industrial capability and, in uncertain times, make Australia stronger and make Australia fairer.

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

Senator Colbeck, I have called and called you during question time. I appreciate you have strong feelings on this matter. I invite you to find a place in the agenda next week to make your views known to the chamber, but not at question time. Senator O'Neill, first supplementary?

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

Minister, the Albanese Labor government has made it a priority to deliver more affordable, more renewable and more secure energy for Australia. Minister, how does the government's announcement help deliver cheaper energy, and how will it deliver greater certainty for industry in Australia?

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

I've never watched late-night Sky in my life, and it's very rare for me to agree with something that Mr Joyce from the other place has said. Last night he said that Rio Tinto has done a greater assessment on Australia's energy policy than anybody else. Indeed, they have. What Rio Tinto, one of the owners of this facility, says is that coal fired electricity is the problem.

And it is the electricity failure of those opposite that has caused the problem and made electricity unaffordable. If they were in power, continuing to build no power, this facility would close, and it's fallen to us to fix the problem that you created.

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

Senator Canavan, come to order. This is not an opportunity to see who can shout the loudest. Senator O'Neill, second supplementary?

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

Can I just thank you for being such a mighty champion for the great Hunter. It's not as good as the Central Coast, of course, but it's nearly there! Tomago is one of the largest energy users in New South Wales, and this investment clearly demonstrates the Albanese Labor government's commitment to working in partnership with state governments and industry to deliver innovative solutions and better energy infrastructure. Minister, how does this government's investment improve energy infrastructure, and are there any obstacles that might be standing in the way?

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

(—) (): This government is all about electricity additionality. What this plan does is deliver more generation. There are alternative views. The problem was those opposite when they were in government, and there was nobody more of an architect than Mr Taylor, who was for a time over that period the energy minister. He presided over that period of decline and delay and deferral. What that meant was that electricity became far too expensive for firms like Rio Tinto. But we know what Mr Taylor thinks about these questions, because, when he was a consultant, his advice to the aluminium industry was, 'Go to China.' That was Mr Taylor's advice—'Go to China.' He said, 'In aluminium, we are missing our chance to replace uncompetitive processing with bauxite exports.' He was all for sending this— (Time expired)